Valthornet January 2015

DISTRICT LODGE LAKE MICHIGAN NO. 8 January 2015

GOTT NYTT ÅR 2015!

District Master’s Message:

To all District Lodge Lake Michigan No. 8 Members,

Gott Nytt År! The holidays are always a busy time of year, as we race around

preparing for the many festivities and getting together with family and friends near

and far, new and old. As one year ends and another begins, it is also a time of

reflection and an opportunity to renew commitments and make resolutions. What

will your Lodge’s resolution be for this year?

I have written of change, and trying new things, now I would like to hear from you!

What changes would you like to see occur at the District level? How can we, as your

District Executive Board, support you at the Local Lodge level? Would you like to see prepackaged

programs on specific topics, lists of program ideas and / or guest presenters, language lessons, adult

camp scholarships, cultural activities, regional field trip itineraries, or something else? As a Lodge, take a

few minutes and discuss this question and get back to us with your answers. Mail, or email (preferably)

them to us via myself, our District Secretary, or better still, all of the Board; our emails and addresses are

both online and on the inside cover of the Valthornet. The more specific the input from your

membership, our membership, the better.

Does your lodge have “experts” who are willing to share their talents, possibly even travelling to other

lodges? Has your lodge already created a presentation that could be copied and loaned to other lodges?

Have you taken a trip and already created an itinerary you’re willing to share? Are there members of

your greater community who are available to conduct programs? What about that membership talent

sheet? What untapped resources do you have within your lodge? Please share these with the District

officers as well. Together we are better!

As we enter a new year, it is the perfect time to reflect on how we can grow as an organization. Not just

in numbers but also, as our motto says, in unity and generosity. Cultural heritage is as relevant today as

ever, just look at the growth of ancestry.com and the popularity of the show “Who Do You Think You

Are?”. People are craving knowledge and opportunities to explore their heritage, and Vasa can help fill

that void for those of Nordic descent or interested in the Nordic cultures.

Henry David Thoreau said, “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become

by achieving your goals”. Just think what Vasa can become…..

In Truth, Unity, and Generosity,

Susan Cleveland, District Master

District Lodge Lake Michigan No. 8

VALTHORNET

2

DISTRICT LODGE LAKE MICHIGAN NO. 8

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS and OFFICERS 2014 - 2015

District Master: Susan Cleveland

1117 Foxpointe Drive

Sycamore, Illinois 60178

(815) 895 – 2102; Cell: (815) 546 - 1097

Email: [email protected]

Vice District Master: Michael Pearson, Sr.

7309 New Hampshire Place

Hammond, Indiana 46323 – 2937

(219) 588 – 4752


Past District Master: Edward L. Hultgren

13650 Amblewind Place

Carmel, Indiana 46074 – 8227

(317) 733 – 3493; Cell: (941) 525 - 3700


District Secretary: Nancy Hult

14951 South Kenton Avenue

Midlothian, Illinois 60445

(708) 687 – 8943; (708) 602 - 5339



Assistant District Secretary:

Joella D. Hultgren



(317) 733 – 3493


District Treasurer: John S. Loula

5400 Walnut Place

Unit # 715

Downers Grove, Illinois 60515

(630) 852 – 9853; (630) 336 - 1438


Hospital Fund Secretary: Linda S. Tylk

1960 West Richton Road

Steger, Illinois 60475 - 1394

(708) 747 – 4717

Cell: (708) 805 - 3040


Executive Board Member: Gene M. Kiesel

1426 Kennebec Road

Grand Blanc, Michigan 48439

(810) 695 – 2563; (810) 513 - 0983


Executive Board Member: Paula Stopka

115 Crissey Avenue

Geneva, Illinois 60134

(630) 208 – 9850; (630) 269 - 1570


District Cultural Leader:

Timothy Ogrentz

12849 South Manistee Avenue

Chicago, Illinois 60633

(773) 646 – 0279; (773) 680 – 6556


Supervisor Of Children’s / Youth Clubs:

Lynda Smith

1502 Azalea Drive

Munster, Indiana 46321 – 3812

(219) 923 – 8777; (219) 741 - 8875


District Historian: Iva Lynn *

6035 Riva Ridge Drive

Indianapolis, Indiana 46237 - 5001

(317) 714 - 9986

Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

District Chaplain: Marvin Anderson

5626 Boy Scout Road

Indianapolis, Indiana 46226 - 1320

(317) 591 - 0235


Master of Ceremonies: David Runstrom

6716 Tall Oaks Drive

Unit # 1A

Kalamazoo, Michigan 49009

(269) 221 – 0917; (269) 375 - 7165


Inner Guard: James Pelzman

9413 South Homan Avenue

Evergreen Park, Illinois 60805

(708) 423 – 4057


Outer Guard: Steven Westlund

55 West Joliet Street

Schererville, Indiana 46375

(219) 322 - 5190


Auditor: Robert Merrill – 3 years

329 Larkin Street

Madison, Wisconsin 53705

Home: (608) 238 – 4981; Cell: (608) 692 - 2638


Auditor: Herbert Smith – 2 years

1502 Azalea Drive

Munster, Indiana 46321 – 3812

(219) 923 – 8777: cell: (219) 741 - 8771


Auditor: Eric Swanson – 1 year

8433 North McKinley Road

Flushing, Michigan 48433

(810) 639 – 6705


VALTHORNET Editor: *

Joella D. Hultgren



(317) 733 – 3493


Grand Lodge Deputy: Christine Kilstrom

7010 West 86th Place

Apartment # 1C

Burbank, Illinois 60459

(708) 423 – 2158

[email protected]

* Appointed by the District Master

***************************************************************************************************************************************

VALTHORNET is the official publication of the District Lodge Lake Michigan No. 8, Vasa Order of America, and is published in

Indianapolis, Indiana. The VALTHORNET is published quarterly in the months of January, April, July, and October.

DEADLINES: All news items and photographs should reach the Editor Joella Hultgren (see above for contact information) by the last

day of the month before the month of publication, i.e. 31 March, 30 June, 30 September, and 31 December.

ADDRESS CHANGES should be sent to: Joan Graham, Grand Secretary, 5838 San Jose Avenue, Richmond, California 94804;

Email: [email protected] or [email protected].

UPDATE YOUR MAILING LIST!

Local lodges should update their mailing list regularly. Membership lists change frequently because of initiations, moves, and deaths, and

there may be errors from previous lists. Misdirected mail results in added expense for the Grand Lodge, the District Lodge, and your Local

Lodge. You may request a current circulation list of members from your lodge who receive the VALTHORNET and the VASA STAR by

contacting Joan Graham, Grand Secretary, 5838 San Jose Avenue, Richmond, California 94804; e-mail: [email protected] or

[email protected]. Grand Secretary Joan Graham will update your mailing list with your help. Please keep the list current and correct.

************************************************************************************************************************

Advertisements in the quarterly Valthornet are being accepted.

The fees for each issue are: $ 35.00 for a 1/6 page ad (1/3 of one full column),

$ 50.00 for a 1/4 page ad (1/2 of one full column), and $ 200.00 for a full page ad.

If you would like to purchase an advertisement, send a check written to "District Lodge Lake

Michigan # 8", and mail it to: Joella Hultgren, Valthornet Editor, 13650 Amblewind Place,

Carmel, Indiana 46074 - 8227.

DEADLINES for Valthornet advertisements are: March 31 for the April issue, June 30 for the July

issue, September 30 for the October issue, and December 31 for the January issue.

3

FUNDERINGAR FRÅN INEZ

VAD GJORDE FARFAR ÅR 1890?

Mot slutet av 1800-talet fanns det tre nya

saker i Sverige: Det hade inte varit krig

sedan 1809, potatisen och vaccinering.

Ingen dog i krig numera, ingen svälte och

ingen dog i smittkoppor. Folk var friska och

började föda många barn. Dessa

barn levde och växte upp och blev starka

unga män och kvinnor, som sökte arbete.

En fjärdedel av den generationen

emigrerade till Amerika.

Ni vet bättre än jag vad som hände med Era farfäder i Amerika.

En del nykomlingar blev bedragna av tyska, engelska och andra

mera erfarna immigranter och dog fattiga, en del dog i

olyckshändelser, men de flesta fann den fria, rika jorden och

brukade den som duktiga bönder.

Resten av den generationen arbetare stannade i hemlandet och

skockade sig i städerna. De tog det arbete som fanns, och det

betydde svältlön och smutsiga farliga arbetsförhållanden.

Alkoholismen härjade. Detta fortsatte några år tills ledare kom

fram ur arbetarleden och Social-demokratiska Partiet föddes ca

1890. Fackföreningar bildades. Solidaritet bland arbetarna var

grundläggande. De många tusentals bondpojkarna började fatta

att, om de höll ihop, hade de mer makt än fabriksägarna. Detta

var arbetarrörelsen. Socialdemokraterna bildade sin första

regering år 1911.

Min pappa arbetade i trä. Han byggde vackra möbler och var

modellsnickare. Jag var en liten unge på sju eller åtta år i Sverige

på fyrtiotalet, när Metallarbetarnas Fackförening inte kunde få en

skaplig överenskommelse med ägarna och utlyste allmän strejk.

Min pappas Bygg- och Möbelsnickares Fackförening strejkade i

sympati. Han förklarade för mig att han inte tyckte om att vara

hemma en vardag, men att han måste hjälpa de andra arbetarna.

Det verkade rätt, tyckte jag. Och min mamma stödde honom fast

i detta. Strejken orsakade arbetsstopp över nästan hela Sverige

och arbetarnas villkor blev snart mötta.

Efter 1890 har Sverige infört: allmän folkpension, allmän

hälsovård, Arbetarnas Bildningsförbund, god äldreomsorg,

barnbidrag från Staten till alla som försörjer ett barn, gratis

universitetsstudier, ett år ledigt för föräldrar efter födelsen av ett

barn, och andra förmåner. Höga skatter betalar för det, men det är

ändå möjligt att bli rik i Sverige.

Vad än våra farfäder gjorde, gjorde de för oss, deras barn.

Inez Törnblom, före detta Distriktskaplan

Viljan # 349

MUSINGS FROM INEZ

WHAT DID GRANDPA DO IN 1890?

Towards the end of the 1800's, three things were new in Sweden:

there had not been a war since 1809, the potato, and the smallpox

vaccine. No one got killed in wars anymore, no one starved

anymore, and no one died from smallpox anymore. People were

healthy, and they started to have lots of babies. Those children

lived and grew up to be strong young men and women looking for

work. One fourth of that generation went to America.

You know better than I what happened to your ancestors in

America. Some newcomers were deceived by more experienced

immigrants and died poor, some got killed in accidents, but many

found the free, rich, black soil and farmed it successfully.

The rest of that generation of workers stayed in their home

country and flocked to the cities. They took any work they could

get and that meant starvation wages and dirty and unsafe

conditions. Alcoholism raged. This went on for some years, until

leaders emerged from their ranks and the Social Democratic Party

was born in 1890. Unions were formed. Solidarity among the

workers was essential. Those many thousands of country

bumpkins caught on to the fact that, if they stuck together, they

had more power than the factory owners. This was the Labor

Movement. The Social Democrats formed their first government

in 1911.

My father worked with wood. He built beautiful furniture and he

was a pattern maker. I was a little kid of seven or eight in Sweden

in the 1940's when the Metal Workers Union was unable to get a

decent contract from the owners and called a country - wide

strike. My father's Carpenters Union struck in sympathy. He

explained to me that he did not like to stay at home on a weekday,

but he had to help the other workers. That made sense to me.

And my mother absolutely supported him in this. This

immobilized most of the manufacture in Sweden at the time, and

the workers soon got their conditions filled.

From 1890 on, Sweden has put in place: old age pensions for all,

socialized medical care, adult education, good elder care, child

support payments from the government for anyone raising a child,

free university study, one year off work for new parents, and other

benefits. High taxes pay for it, but it is still possible to get rich in

Sweden.

Whatever our Grandfathers did, they did it for us, their children.

Inez Törnblom, former District Chaplain

Viljan #349

GENEALOGY NEWS

If you have missed any of the PBS shows “Finding Your Roots”, look at the links below:

Telling Stories with Mitochondrial DNA "Mitochondrial DNA or “mtDNA” is the type of DNA that is passed directly from a mother to her children. Since

only females pass it on, it is an unbroken chain connecting us to our matrilineal ancestors stretching back through time. No matter how far back you go, you only

have one direct maternal ancestor in each generation and she is the one from whom you inherited your mtDNA."

Read more: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/finding-your-roots/blog/telling-stories-mitochondrial-dna/

Reconnecting Lost Family Tree Branches with DNA Read more: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/finding-your –roots/blog/reconnecting-lost-family-tree-branches-

dna/

Tracing Descent from a Slave Owner with DNA Read more: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/finding-your-roots/blog/tracing-descent-slave-owner-dna/

Ashkenazi Jewish DNA and the Potential to Piece Together Shattered Family Tree Branches Read more: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/finding-your-

roots/blog/ashkenazi-jewish-dna-potential-piece-together-shattered-family-branches/

When DNA Confirms the Paper Trail Read more: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/finding-your-roots/blog/dna-confirms-paper-trail/

Contact Herbert Smith, Nordik Folk # 761, for more information: [email protected] or 219- 923 – 8777.

4

NEWS FROM LOCAL LODGES

SILJAN – MORA - TUNA # 134

Evergreen Park, Illinois

19 October 2014: A meeting, Hallowe’en Party, and Soup Supper

were held at United By Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in

Evergreen Park, Illinois.

30 November 2014: A meeting, the Election of Officers for 2015,

and a Christmas Party took place at United By Faith Evangelical

Lutheran Church in Evergreen Park, Illinois.

LINNÉ # 153

South Bend, Indiana

21 September 2014: In the October 2014 issue, there was a picture

of the lodge members who attended the 105th Anniversary

celebration in the Vasa Order of America at Gloria Dei Lutheran

Church Fellowship Hall in South Bend, Indiana. Members and

guests enjoyed a Scandinavian Pot Luck meal and numerous exhibits,

memorabilia, and photographs. In this issue, we have a picture of the

District officers attending plus other new guests to the lodge.

District Chaplain Marvin Anderson and Lou Anderson, guest Jim Kronk,

guest Helen Bush, Chuck and Marilyn Elston, guest Lucy Oliver, guest

Joseph Venzel, Past District Master Edward Hultgren and Assistant

District Secretary Joella Hultgren, District Master Susan Cleveland,

Marlene Westergren, Vice District Master Michael Pearson Sr.,

and Lisa Pearson.

2 October 2014: CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU

PAYS BLOGGERS TO COME TO GRAND FORKS.

Amanda Hofland (left), seen in

Fargo, North Dakota, attended a

"bloggers weekend" hosted by The

Greater Grand Forks Convention

and Visitors Bureau. Lodge

member Amanda Hofland started

blogging almost on a whim. But

with about 1,500 unique visitors to

her blog every month, the Fargo,

North Dakota resident said she is

now attracting readers from across

the country, nearly all of whom

she doesn’t personally know.

Amanda Hofland is the daughter of members Elinor Pihl Huggett and

Kenneth Huggett, who shared the news about their daughter’s

exciting weekend.

5 October 2014: The meeting was held at Gloria Dei Lutheran

Church Fellowship Hall in South Bend, Indiana.

2 November 2014: A meeting took place at Gloria Dei Lutheran

Church Fellowship Hall in South Bend, Indiana.

6 December 2014: A Christmas Dinner was held.

contributor: Elinor Pihl Huggett

KRONAN # 179

Chicago, Illinois

28 September 2014: This meeting at the Svithiod Hall in Chicago,

Illinois, celebrated the lodge’s 104th anniversary. Members enjoyed

a meal of Brown's Chicken, potatoes, cole slaw, and homemade

pickles, with pound cake, strawberries, and whipped cream for

dessert. The sick committee reported on ailing members. The charter

was draped and a moment of silence was held for the passing of long

time and active member Judy Stuyvesant, who died on September 12,

2014. A donation to the Swedish American Museum was made in

her honor. The day concluded with a few fun rounds of Bunco with

prizes for the winners.

26 October 2014: Our meeting at the Svithiod Hall in Chicago,

Illinois, had a Hallowe’en theme, and the hall was decorated in lots of

orange and pumpkins. Members enjoyed finger sandwiches,

hardtack, limpa, liver sausage, cole slaw, potato salad, and pickles,

with home made pumpkin spice for dessert.

(above) Louise Nygard (downhill skier), John Nygard (sea captain),

Audrey Fields (panda), and Kim Bojarski (baseball player).

The charter was draped and a moment of silence was held for the

passing of long time and extremely active member Esther Shag, as

well as for Frank Bojarski, who was the husband and father of

members Linda Bojarski and Kim Bojarski, respectively. Both their

obituaries were read. A memorial brick at VASA Park will be

purchased in Esther Shag’s memory. Cultural Leader Joan Asplund

gave a report on the VASA Park meeting she attended. Program and

Activity Director Louise Nygard led everyone in attendance in

choosing the programs for the next year. Dates, meals, and activities

were planned. Members can look for their copy of the 2015 program

in the New Year. Election of officers took place. The following are

the officers for 2015: Chairman, John Nygard; Vice Chairman,

Henry Sanderson; Recording Secretary, Audrey Fields; Financial

Secretary, Louise Nygard; Treasurer, Linda Bojarski; Chaplain, Joan

Asplund; Master of Ceremonies, Kim Bojarski; Vice Master of

Ceremonies, Dan Szymanski; Inner Guard, Arnie Lidquist; Cultural

Leader, Joan Asplund; Historian / Reporter / Webmaster, Kim

Bojarski; Program Activity Directors, Louise Nygard and Lydia

Sanderson; Trustees: John Nygard, Henry Sanderson, and Arnold

Lindquist; and Auditors: Kim Bojarski, Audrey Fields, and Joan

Asplund. The day concluded with a Costume Contest. Kim Bojarski

5

came as a baseball player, Louise Nygard dressed as a downhill skier,

John Nygard came as a sea captain, and Audrey Fields dressed as a

panda.

23 November 2014: This meeting at the Svithiod Hall in Chicago,

Illinois, was a Holiday celebration. The hall was decorated with reds

and greens, along with many Santas and snowmen. Members were

served a luncheon of Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes, salad, and

Limpa bread. Dessert was a delicious homemade rice pudding from

Margot Ward. Margot Ward explained that two cups of the pudding

contained an almond, and the people who had the almond

traditionally must perform something for the group. Margot Ward

and Tom Smith entertained everyone as they enjoyed the pudding.

(above) Audrey Fields, Kim Bojarski as Lucia, and Joan Asplund.

A beautiful Lucia program was presented to members. Kim Bojarski

served as Lucia, and Joan Asplund and Audrey Fields served as her

court. Lucia and her court were helped out vocally by the choir of

Louise Nygard and Margot Ward, along with the rest of the members

in attendance. The ladies sang Sankta Lucia in the procession. Kim

Bojarski read the Lucia Poem, followed by everyone singing Nu

Tändas Tusen Juleljus and Stilla Natt / Silent Night, half in Swedish,

half in English. At the end of the program, the attendees were served

Lucia Buns and coffee. Members then all sat around the tables with

their grab bag presents and Louise Nygard read 'The Night Before

Christmas’. Each time 'THE' was read, members were to pass the gift

to the left. When the story ended, whichever present was in front of

them was their grab bag gift to take home.

contributor: by Kim Bojarski

Webmaster / Historian / Reporter

BESSEMER # 203

Oak Lawn, Illinois

Location Reminder: Remember, as of September 8, 2012, our lodge

began to meet at Trinity Evangelical Covenant Church, on the North -

West corner of 93rd and Pulaski (Crawford) in Oak Lawn, Illinois.

Our meetings begin at 11 AM. Following the meetings we are

served lunch and have an activity.

4 October 2014: At this meeting, we had a visitor from Sweden.

(above) Barbara Olson, Linda Roos Volk, and Christine Kilstrom

Linda Roos Volk was born here in the Chicago area and was on the

“Midwest Vasa Children Sweden Tour” in 1963. Linda Roos Volk

was a member of the Vårblomman Children’s Club on the northside,

while Barbara Olson and Christine Kilstrom were from Solstrålen on

the southside. Linda Roos Volk now lives in Sweden and is a nurse.

She told us what Sweden is like now and answered questions about

different holiday customs. Linda Roos Volk stayed with Eleanor

Holmberg while she was visiting.

1 November 2014: This is the month that we remember the Harvest

time and Thanksgiving. Patricia Pelzman was our host for this

meeting. Glad Tacksägelsdagen! Happy Thanksgiving Day!

turkey – kalkon

pumpkin – pumpa

pie – paj

cranberry – tranbär

mashed potatoes – potatismos

vegetables – grönsakar

stuffing – fyllning

sweet potatoes - sötpotatis

10 November 2014: Linda Tylk taught a Norwegian Hardanger

stitching class.

7 December 2014: This was the day set for our Julfest / Christmas

Party held at Trinity Covenant Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois.

Everyone enjoyed food and fun, crafts for the children, dancing

around the Christmas Tree, games, and prizes. The special guest was

Jultomte, with gifts for the children. This event was a great time for

the whole family. Tack to Jim Pelzman for coordinating the

reservations.

contributor: Christine Kilstrom

BRAHE # 245

Rockford, Illinois

26 October 2014: The Lodge met in VASA Park Lodge on a warm,

sunny afternoon with 14 members attending.

(above) Chairman Scott Johnson and other officers on left,

refreshments at center rear, and members on the right.

After our business meeting, Chairman Scott Johnson said that he did

not receive further word from a possible buyer of VASA Park. Since

snow plowing of the park grounds during winter months would be

6

expensive, the next four monthly meetings will be held elsewhere in

the area, probably in the meeting room of the Cherry

Valley Public Library each month, the date depending on

availability. Refreshments were provided by Karin Ylitalo and Gary

Johnson.

16 November 2014: Fourteen members of the Lodge met in the

public library in

Cherry Valley,

Illinois.

(left) Chairman -

elect Gary Johnson,

and Tess Anderson,

Recording Secretary

– elect.

A business meeting

was held, including

a report that no

offers have been received to purchase VASA Park. We held the

election of officers for 2015. Gary Johnson was elected Chairman,

and Tess Anderson was elected Recording Secretary. Retiring 2014

Chairman Scott Johnson agreed to be 2015 Vice Chairman. These

new officers plus the other 2014 officers were retained, and all will

be installed during our scheduled January 2015 meeting.

Refreshments were provided by Will and Betty Rottman.

14 December 2014: Our Lodge met

in the Cherry Valley Illinois District

Library with 15 members attending

our annual Christmas party, during

which no business meeting was held!

(right) Members Roy Ylitalo, Scott

Johnson, Charlotte Tollin, David

Tollin, and Don Erickson.

In the foreground of the picture are

many wrapped prizes for our Bingo

games, which followed our delicious

potluck provided by our members.

submitted by Dennis G. Eksten

SVEA # 253

Indianapolis, Indiana

4 October, 11 October, 18 October, and 25 October 2014: Lodge

member Jim Nelson taught Svenska Klass / Introductory Swedish

Language and Nordic Culture classes in the Group Study Room at

the Greenwood

Public Library in

Greenwood, Indiana.

(right) Marvin

Anderson, Carl

Anderson, and

Jean Tygum.

(above) John Gundersen, Jean Tygum, Brenda Miller, Marvin Anderson,

Amy Johnson, Irene Nelson, and Jim Nelson.

There were nine students in the class; they learned useful Swedish

words and phrases, some fascinating Swedish history, folklore and

culture, and heard some good Swedish poetry and music. It was

great! On October 18, 2014, the students gathered afterwards to

celebrate at the Sassafras Tea Room in Greenwood, Indiana. They

had a lot of fun!

5 October 2014: A Big Welcome Back to Lois Klubens who was re-

instated as a member. The ceremony was officiated by Past

Chairman Charlotte Swenson, Chairman Jean Tygum, Master Of

Ceremonies Dennis Danielson, Vice Chairman Ulla Williams, and

Chaplain Carol

Atherton –

Clarkson.

(left) Lois Klubens

is re-instated as a

member.

We welcomed

USMC Colonel

Jim Wold, a

guest (and

“adopted son”)

of Annette

Johansson.

Colonel Jim Wold has served five deployments in Afghanistan as

well as in Iraq and the Gulf War. We thank him for his many years

of service to our country. Semper Fi! The Nominating Committee,

Ulla Williams, Dennis Danielson, Donna Bergstrom, and Charlotte

Swenson, presented the slate for 2015 officers: Past Chairman, John

Bevelhimer; Chairman, Jean Tygum; Vice Chairman, Ulla Williams;

Treasurer, Marvin Anderson; Recording Secretary, Brenda Miller;

Assistant Recording Secretary, Faye Bevelhimer; Financial Secretary,

Douglas Krantz; Chaplain, Carol Atherton - Clarkson; Master Of

Ceremonies, Dennis Danielson; Cultural Leader, Amy Johnson;

Assistant Cultural Leader, Jay Hook; Inner Guard, Faye Bevelhimer;

Trustees: Charlotte Swenson (1 year), Jay Hook (2 years), and Lois

Klubens (3 years); and Auditors: Ken Allen (1 year), Patricia

Hoffmann (2 years), and Scott Clarkson (3 years). Elections will take

place at the November meeting. Judy and George Spencer will again

make wheat sheaves to sell for Christmas decorating. The cultural

program “Early Celtic And Scandinavian Design” was presented by

Carol Atherton - Clarkson who has been a Vasa member since 1988.

An accomplished artist and former art teacher, she has long been

keenly interested in the far – roving Celts and their interaction with

Scandinavians, and their influence on the design traditions of many

cultures, including that of the Vikings. Celtic design is evident in

many Nordic artifacts: women’s jewelry, helmets, swords, chain

mail, trappings for horses, boat decorations, and more. We learned

about this beautiful and fascinating design tradition. Carol Atherton

– Clarkson, earned her B.A. in Art Education from the Herron School

of Art in Indianapolis, Indiana; her M.A. in Art Education from East

Carolina University (Greenville, North Carolina); and her Ph.D. in

Art Education from Appalachian State University (Boone, North

Carolina). She and her husband Scott Clarkson (also a lodge

member) are also active members of the Scottish Society.

Refreshments were provided by: Dennis Danielson, Amy Johnson,

Ann – Katrin Roth, and Charlotte Swenson.

11 October 2014: Scott Clarkson announced that the Fifth Annual

Highland Games will be held by the Scottish Society at German Park.

28 October 2014: The Fourth Tuesday Luncheon group met at

Santorini’s Greek Kitchen in Indianapolis, Indiana. We love

experiencing the many ethnic restaurants in the area. Tusen Tack to

Faye and John Bevelhimer for arranging this monthly outing.

1 November 2014: Lodge member Jim Nelson taught the final

session of Svenska Klass / Introductory Swedish Language and

Nordic Culture classes in the Group Study Room at the Greenwood

7

Public Library in Greenwood, Indiana. This final class was

“Christmas Customs in Sweden and Norway”. It was suitable for all

ages. The class was taught in English, though material included song

texts (Christmas carols and children's songs) and a vocabulary of

Christmas terms (recipe titles, names for Scandinavian Christmas

elves or "Santas", and the Christmas story from the Bible) in Swedish

and Norwegian. The afternoon featured discussion of Christmas

customs in Norway and Sweden, Christmas tales, poetry, and songs.

Jim Nelson played some music of his own as well. After class,

participants gathered for a snack at the nearby Sassafras Tea Room,

one of Greenwood's most charming eating spots. This was a very

charming, fun, and fascinating afternoon and a wonderful way to

have some early pre – Christmas Scandinavian - flavored Christmas

spirit and experiences.

2 November 2014: The final regular meeting of the calendar year

was held at the Latvian Center in Indianapolis, Indiana.

(right)

Kirsten

Grosz was

initiated.

Kirsten

Grosz was

initiated as

a new

member by

the

initiation team of Past Chairman John Bevelhimer, Chairman Jean

Tygum, Master Of Ceremonies Dennis Danielson, Vice Chairman

Ulla Williams, and Chaplain Carol Clarkson. Welcome to Kirsten

Grosz! We also welcomed guest Bucky Shogren Poppleton who is

half Swedish. “A Map In The Wind”, a new book of poetry by our

member Catherine Swanson, will be published in January 2015.

Orders are being taken now. You may read a sample of Catherine

Swanson’s work with her previous poem “The Company Of Weeds”.

Tusen Tack to Amy Johnson for her work on our Facebook page

Scandinavians In Indianapolis: https://facebook.com/svea253.

Tusen Tack to Brenda Miller for her articles and photographs for

“News From Sweden and Royal News & Notes”. The Nominating

Committee, Ulla Williams, Dennis Danielson, Donna Bergstrom, and

Charlotte Swenson, presented the slate for 2015 officers: Past

Chairman, John Bevelhimer; Chairman, Jean Tygum; Vice Chairman,

Ulla Williams; Treasurer, Marvin Anderson; Recording Secretary,

Brenda Miller; Assistant Recording Secretary, Faye Bevelhimer;

Financial Secretary, Douglas Krantz; Chaplain, Carol Atherton -

Clarkson; Master Of Ceremonies, Dennis Danielson; Cultural Leader,

Amy Johnson; Assistant Cultural Leader, Jay Hook; Inner Guard,

Faye Bevelhimer; Trustees: Charlotte Swenson (1 year), Jay Hook (2

years), and Lois Klubens (3 years); and Auditors: Ken Allen (1

year), Patricia Hoffmann (2 years), and Scott Clarkson (3 years).

Elections took place. Congratulations to our new and continuing

officers for 2015. The program “Unwritten Rules Of Being Swedish”

was presented by Judith Gustafson, who is a second generation

Swedish – American, and who wrote a Heritage Essay for a

continuing education class on the subject of “unwritten rules of being

Swedish”. When our Cultural Leader Carin Young read it, she

laughed out loud because the things Judith Gustafson wrote about

“were so true and so Swedish”. Judith Gustafson read her essay at

her program, and Swedish – born members shared their own

memories about growing up in Sweden. This was a fun program with

audience participation and a lot of laughs. Judith Gustafson came to

Indianapolis, Indiana in 1966, and in 1968 received a Master’s

Degree in Social Work from Indiana University. She worked 35

years in local hospitals, mostly in inpatient psychiatric units. For the

past 10 years, she has worked periodically scoring essays at CTB /

McGraw – Hill. She wrote her Heritage Essay in 2013 as an

assignment for an online class called TESOL (Teaching English to

Speakers of Other Languages). The refreshment hostesses for this

meeting were: Diann Ryan, Jean Bang, Jean Tygum, and Jenne

Swain.

19 November to 23 November 2014: The annual International

Festival was held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. This year’s theme

was “Traditional Dress In Countries Around The World”. Several of

our members participated by working at the cultural booths and

performing on the dancing stages.

25 November 2014: The Fourth Tuesday Luncheon group met at the

North End Barbecue & Moonshine, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Tack Så

Mycket to Faye and John Bevelhimer for arranging this monthly

event.

6 December 2014: The Svea Singers and the Children participating

in the Lucia Processional rehearsed at the Latvian Center in

Indianapolis, Indiana. Eija Vesterqvist led the Svea Singers, and

Barbara Griffith and Ulf Jonas Björk coordinated the Lucia attendants

and the stjärngossar (star boys) for the pageant. Thank you to

Cultural Leader Carin Young for taking the pre – orders for Limpa

Bread. The official Swedish name is BLIDÖLIMPA. Everyone

raved about the bread from our Pea Soup & Pancake Supper last

spring --- SO delicious! Our lodge has always been lucky in that all

our limpa over the years has been excellent, but this recipe, from one

of Carin Young's older baking books, is the best ever.

7 December 2014: The annual LuciaFest was held at the Latvian

Community Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, with the Julmiddag

smörgåsbord, Lucia Processional, efterrätt (dessert), raffles, and

Jultomte. We had a great crowd; 109 members and guests attended.

The scrumptious and sumptuous Julbord included: assorted rye bread

/ rye crisp with butter, assorted cheeses, hard – boiled eggs, smoked

whitefish, assorted pickled herring, pickled beets, cucumbers in

vinegar, relish tray, spiced peaches, Swedish meatballs and

lingonberries, ham with

mustard, oven roasted potatoes,

rotmos / mashed rutabaga, and

Latvian lettuce salad with

dressing. Desserts were rice

pudding with raspberry sauce

and pepparkakor. The

celebration is one of the

highlights of the year.

The Lucia for 2014 was Annika

Björk – Griffith, one of three

daughters of Barbara Griffith

and Ulf Jonas Björk.

(right) Annika Björk – Griffith

is Lucia for 2014.

Annika Björk – Griffith is in the

8th grade at Westlane Middle School in Indianapolis, Indiana, where

she plays saxophone in the school band, sings and dances as a

member of the Blu'ettes show choir, and plays on the tennis team.

Annika Björk - Griffith spent spring semester 2012 in Stockholm,

8

Sweden, where she attended a local school and picked up the north

Stockholm suburban dialect, which she has a chance to practice when

her grandparents visit from Sweden twice a year.

Eija Vesterqvist led the Svea Singers in song for the festivities, and

Barbara Griffith and Ulf Jonas Björk coordinated the Lucia attendants

and the stjärngossar (star boys) for the pageant. Jultomte had a

surprise gift for each of the children attending. There was also

Cloudberry Jam and Limpa bread for sale, and lovely holiday sheaves

of wheat “for the birds,” made by Judy Spencer. Thank you to Ulla

Williams for coordinating the reservations and meal. Thank you to

John Seest and Dans Norden members for leading the ring dancing at

the end of the program. It was a fabulous time!

12 December 2014: A farewell luncheon in honor of Irene and Jim

Nelson was held at Santorini’s Greek Kitchen in Indianapolis,

Indiana. We are sad that Irene and Jim Nelson are moving to

Chesterton, Indiana; we are really going to miss them! They have

been active members of both our Swedish lodge and the Sons of

Norway (Circle City Lodge #5-614), and members from both Nordic

groups attended the luncheon.

Joella D. Hultgren

AUSTIN # 466

Chicago, Illinois

13 December 2014: Chairman Bob Oberg announced the annual

Christmas Dinner celebration held at Grota Banquet Hall in Chicago,

Illinois. This was a special event not to be missed. The social hour

was followed with a delicious sit - down dinner served with

complimentary wine and beverages. The dinner menu included soup,

salad, roast beef, roast chicken, meatballs and gravy, potatoes,

vegetables, mostaccioli, bread basket, home made pastries, coffee,

and soda. The all - star live entertainment included the famous

musician, George Banks, performing holiday music songs on the

electric guitar, and who was recently interviewed by Lindsay

Friedman of the Chicago Tribune. Several special guests included

journalist Frank Rowder, member of the International Olympic

Committee, Asian Economic Council, and Chicago Journalist

Association. The lodge honored and presented special certificates of

achievement to Erika Diaz, Aracely Macarena, and Maria Dela Rosa,

employees of McDonalds U. S. A.; they received gift certificates at

the dinner. There were door prizes and a holiday raffle. Thank you

to Treasurer Debbie Renaud for keeping track of the reservations and

payments. Free public parking was available 100 feet north of Grota

Banquet Hall. Remember to check out the websites:

www.NordicChicago.com and www.NordicT.V.Network. Austin

Lodge Wishes Everyone A Happy Holiday Season!

LINDE # 492

New Berlin, Wisconsin

4 October 2014: Another successful Scandinavian Festival is now

history. The 24th annual Scandinavian Festival was held at Ronald

Reagan Elementary School in New Berlin, Wisconsin. The Nordic

Council in Milwaukee, Wisconsin presented the Nordic countries of

Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden with Food,

Festivities, and Fun! Attendees enjoyed live Scandinavian music,

energetic ethnic dancing, a fun filled children’s parade, a festive

Scandinavian fashion style – show with models wearing national

costumes, and yummy food for your tummy! Delicious ethnic food is

always a big attraction to enjoy for breakfast, lunch, or dinner:

Finnish Makkara and Pulla; Rosettes and Lefse; Swedish Pancakes

and Meatballs; Danish Kringles; and Big Olaf’s Supercones.

(above) Kitchen Crew Julie LeBlanc, Rolf Ekstrand, and Jan Kamholtz

flipping pancakes.

Genealogy was back! Genealogy specialists were available again this

year for those interested in learning how to research their

Scandinavian family history through the use of the Internet. Arts &

Crafts, sales, and exhibits represented Denmark, Finland, Norway,

and Sweden. There were also cultural demonstrations, children’s

activities where they could learn something new about the

Scandinavian Culture, a Sami exhibit with an authentic lavuu tent,

and raffle prizes. The Wil Kilpela and Friends Band is a popular

dance band from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan that features

Finnish Dance Hall music. Featured at many Finn Fests, countless

dances, concerts, festivals, and Finnish and Scandinavian programs,

they liven up the dance floor with polkas, minor key waltzes, swing,

humppa, tango, and jenkka. Also performing were Lekspel,

Lykkeringen, Norwegian Folk Dancers, and others.

So, how did our lodge do? We had a great bunch of helpers, and

without Marianne Ekstrand, Brent Erickson, Elaine Johnson, Julie

LeBlanc, Jan Kamholtz, Marge Gruel, Rolf Ekstrand, Liza Ekstrand,

Susanna, Cris, & Sophie Rosario, and Bill & Joy Shogren, we would

have been out of breath yet. Thank you everyone; you were

awesome. We had a few more people visiting us this year and we

had more combo plates (the most expensive plate) being served than

last year. Including the take home packages at the end, we served

274 meals (choices were Pancake plate, Meatball plate, or a

Combination plate, with plenty of lingon, knäckebröd, and butter).

We also sold jars of lingon, knäckebröd, and the fabulous cookies

baked and donated by Julie LeBlanc. Linde lodge donated two

baskets of Swedish deli

goodies, but also one

basket had a donation

of glögg glasses, and

the other kitchen

utensils for making

pancakes.

(right) Servers Elaine

Johnson and Susanna

Rosario.

Together with the

Nordic Council, we are

now planning for the 2015 Festival; this will be the 25th year, so

expect something special with many enhancements and highlights.

Thanks again everyone who helped and / or patronized and purchased

9

our different food options.

12 October 2014: Brent and Jean Erickson announced that the

Wisconsin Philharmonic (Waukesha County’s premier orchestra

since 1947) will feature a season of Scandinavia. Beginning in

October 2014, and continuing through May 2015, Scandinavian

classical music will be a big part of all eight concerts of the

Wisconsin Philharmonic this year. The concerts are all in Waukesha

County, at various locations. Most members have probably heard of

Grieg and Sibelius, and most of the selections at one time or another.

Let’s try to plan for one or two events. The schedule is:

Sunday, October 12, 2014: Swedish Delight

Sunday, November 9, 2014: Nordic Grandeur

Thursday, November 20, 2014: Fashion Show

Tuesday, December 9, 2014: A Scandinavian Christmas

Sunday, February 15, 2015: Scandinavian Strings - A Celebration Of Youth

Saturday, March 2, 2015: Gala

Sunday, April 26, 2015: A Northern Light – Mozart’s Requiem

Saturday, May 30, 2015: Family Concert – Music that Paints a Picture (Extra

Fun Performance)

The Wisconsin Philharmonic Orchestra website, which highlights the

Scandinavian emphasis of the 2014 – 2015 season, is on their home

page: http://wisphil.org.

1 November 2014: Ray Shoberg hosted the meeting at his home in

Pewaukee, Wisconsin, with help from Susanna and Cris Rosario.

They presented photographs, slides, and videos of Sweden and

Finland. Ray, Susanna, and Cris described every picture, and there

were both history and fun tidbits about everything. A short business

meeting was held to nominate officers for 2015. Nominations for

officers for 2015 are as follows: Chairman, Liza Ekstrand; Vice

Chairman, Brent Erickson; Treasurer, Marianne Ekstrand; Secretary,

Marge Gruel; Chaplain, Les Touve; Trustee (3 years) Brent Erickson;

Auditor (3 years) Delores Gildea; Cultural Leaders, Cris and Susanna

Rosario; and Sunshine, Susanna Rosario. Chairman Liza Ekstrand

was invited to speak at the Danish Book Club group; they invited

anyone from the lodge who likes to read to join them in 2015. Linde

Lodge will give $500.00 to the Nordic Club at Valparaiso University.

This is an outreach program suggested by the delegates at the

previous convention to help the college age members to reach

prospective members for the lodge. The group plans to present

Scandinavian programs and also begin a Kubb team, who would play

against other teams at the college level. Ashley LeBlanc has been

named the contact person from our lodge. She will report any events

to us so they can be posted in the newsletter. Ray Shoberg provided

an array of pizzas, and everyone brought desserts for the coffee.

Thank you Ray for hosting!

7 December 2014: The annual Swedish Christmas luncheon was

enjoyed at the

Thunder Bay Grille

in Pewaukee,

Wisconsin.

(right) Rolf Ekstrand,

and Margo and Mike

Kinservik.

We had some

members attend that usually aren’t

able to join us, such as Bob and

Linda May, Margo and Mike

Kinservik.

(left) Alice Schroeder, Jan Kamholtz,

and Marge Gruel.

A short business meeting was held

to elect the officers for 2015. We

were given our own area for the

meeting and luncheon.

13 December 2014: A few of us adults took some of the kids and

went to some of the shut-ins at their homes and sang the Lucia songs

and handed them a plate of cookies. This is Anne – Marie Hummel’s

house on the outside, and

then inside Lucia Grace

Katsekes presented Anne

- Marie Hummel with a

plate of goodies.

(right) Anne – Marie

Hummel receives cookies

from Lucia Grace Katsekes.

We visited other

individual homes and a

senior living center as

well. The seniors were so

appreciative of this and

many had tears in their eyes as we came by.

14 December 2014: The Swedish American Historical Society of

Wisconsin hosted a Lucia celebration at Whitnall Park Lutheran

Church in Hales Corners, Wisconsin. During the Lucia program

Lucia Grace Katsekes read a poem in Swedish, and Noah Laven read

a candle

verse in

Swedish to

light the 5th

candle.

There was

dancing

around the

Christmas

tree, and

Lucia Grace

Katsekes

visited

Santa (wearing her new Lucia necklace). Our Sonia Hummel

coordinated the wonderful program with about 20 children in the

pageant, some children from Skansen Children’s Club and some

children of other Swedish families in the area. Many of our lodge

members attended this event. After Lucia, food and entertainment

were enjoyed in the Fellowship Hall. There were over 100 people

attending and enjoying all the food – everything from baked goods

such as pepparkakor and cinnamon bread to open face sandwiches,

10

meatballs, potato sausage, rice pudding, candy and much, much

more.

25 December 2014: The Swedish American Historical Society of

Wisconsin held a Jul - Otta Service / Celebration at Whitnall Park

Lutheran Church in Hales Corners, Wisconsin on Christmas Day.

Coffee was served afterwards in the Fellowship Hall.

contributor: Liza Ekstrand

SATELLITE # 661

Kalamazoo, Michigan

1 October 2014: All Satellite Lodge members were cordially invited

to an initial planning meeting in the lounge room of Trinity

Evangelical Lutheran Church, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, as we began

earnest preparations to host the 2015 District Lodge Lake Michigan

No. 8 Convention! The convention will be the last weekend of May

2015 and the venue is the Radisson Hotel in downtown Kalamazoo,

Michigan. A lot of information was shared at the meeting. Anyone

with interest was encouraged to attend, and all attendance was greatly

appreciated!

5 October 2014: Our BIG annual Scandinavian fish boil was held at

Trinity Evangelical

Lutheran Church, in

Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Members and guests

gathered outside the

church in the parking lot

area next to the church

garage to watch the boil

and “acceleration”. It

was a spectacle worth

seeing. The local fire

department was on high alert! It was a delicious meal of whitefish,

potatoes, and onions prepared by Judith and Ted Ruser, with David

Olson, Eric Olson, and Roger Drong assisting with the fire and

cooking. Members and guests were encouraged to bring either a

cherry pie or coleslaw contribution to the event; beverages and all

table service were provided. Roger Drong managed the reservations.

We thank Ted and Judy Ruser for their effective time and talents

connected to “beforehand and during” preparations for the fish boil.

The business meeting followed the fish boil dinner.

(right) Judith

Ruser and Bob

Kaarlie prepared

the fish packets.

Sons of Norway

members Bob

and Donna

Kaarlie are

frequent

attendees at the

annual Fish

Boil. Ted and

Judith Ruser were charter members of the Sons of Norway

Askeladden Lodge. Chairman Judith Ruser named Vice Chairman

David Runstrom and Past Chairman Carol Olson to be the

Nominating Committee for officers for 2015. David Runstrom

presented the program “Swedish Ships In America”.

2 November 2014: The meeting was held at Trinity Evangelical

Lutheran Church, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. We began with a

business meeting. Brett Jensen reported that he gave a talk in

October to the Sons of Norway on his recent trip to Norway. The

Nominating Committee of Vice Chairman David Runstrom and Past

Chairman Carol Olson introduced the slate of officers for 2015:

Chairman, Judith Ruser; Vice Chairman, David Runstrom; Past

Chairman, Carol Olson; Recording Secretary, Karin Forsblad;

Assistant Recording Secretary, Connie Douglas; Treasurer,

Theodore Ruser; Master Of Ceremonies, Beverly Finnerty; Assistant

Master Of Ceremonies, Heather Putt; Chaplain, Audrey Engstrom;

and Auditors / Trustees Janis Forsberg (2015), Anders Bergh (2016),

and Carolyn Ehrnstrom (2017). Irma Gorman of Joe – Harbor Lodge

# 534 continues as our District Deputy. Karin Forsblad presented a

program about Rya rugs and brought her Rya rug to demonstrate how

it was made; she gave a brief history of the craft.

Beautiful Collection Of Rya Rugs from Sweden: Rya Rugs (or

Ryijy) are the traditional Scandinavian rugs made in Sweden and

Finland, and word "Rya" actually

means Rug.

(left) Karin Forsblad shows one of

her Rya Rugs.

The vintage Scandinavian Rya

rugs that were made in Sweden

have extremely long, dense pile

and were inspired by the Turkish

"Yataks" or bedding rugs.

Simple patterns, stripes and

geometric designs are

emblematic of these textural

treasures. Thanks to the recent

revival of mid - century decors, the vintage Swedish Rya rugs seem

to have made a strong comeback. Interior Designers and decorators

from all four corners of the world are seeking out vintage rugs from

Scandinavia and more specifically the mid - century vintage Rya rugs

because of their art deco feel and modernist designs. From all the

different types of Scandinavian carpets, the Rya rugs are easiest to

recognize due to their pile, which is much like the modern day "shag

carpets". Scandinavia's fantastic vintage Rya Rugs are modernist,

luxurious and superbly stylish. With such rich textures, bold colors

and abstract designs, it's not surprising that these luscious mid -

century rugs are working their way back into modern interiors. After

Islamic textiles were introduced to the far north around the 10th

century, it didn't take Scandinavian craftspeople long to produce their

own re - creations. The first long - pile Ryas were worn by sailors

and fishermen, and they were also used as insulating bedcovers. This

enduring Nordic textile enjoyed centuries of popularity first as an

upper - class bed covering and later as a local handicraft. During the

1600s, decorative Rya rugs were made for dowries, featured in

wedding ceremonies and displayed in homes. The popularity of these

luxurious, colorful rugs really took off in the mid - 20th century when

shag carpets were must - have accessories, and Scandinavian design

pieces were all the rage.

(right) Chairman Judith Ruser

shows her rug from Skåne.

The scrumptious texture and

rich colors of vintage

Scandinavian Ryas have earned

them a place in stylish homes

once again.

After the program presentation,

the refreshments were the

traditional Scandinavian

Smörgåsbord. All attendees

were encouraged to bring their

favorite Scandinavian dish to

share. Table service was provided by the lodge. Carolyn Ehrnstrom

was hostess for this meeting but many others assisted.

19 November 2014: A second planning meeting for the 2015

District Convention was held at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church,

in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Janis Forsberg and Kim Tilma have met

with the Radisson representatives to discuss food and expenses.

Holly Jensen and Charles Nelson will be in charge of decorations.

11

13 December 2014: The annual Lucia Christmas celebration will be

held at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Portage, Michigan. Heather

Putt agreed to lead the Lucia children’s program, and coordinated the

children and grandchildren who participated. The Lucia was Maggie,

granddaughter of Connie Douglas. Members were invited to bring

cookies, light snacks, treats, or finger food for the refreshments.

Drinks were provided, including Glögg and coffee. Holly Jensen and

Roger Drong made the Glögg. Some members brought Scandinavian

Jul decorations, and Karin Forsblad and Roger Drong prepared

Julgranskarameller.

contributor: David Runstrom, Newsletter Editor

BISHOP HILL # 683

Bishop Hill, Illinois

24 October 2014: This meeting featured Crazy Hat Night and

Hallowe’en Gotcha at the Vasa Archives, in Bishop Hill, Illinois.

The refreshment committee included: Donna and Lloyd Anderson

(chairmen); Marian and Lewis Nelson; and Don Robinson.

21 November 2014: Election of Officers for 2015 was held at this

meeting at the Vasa Archives in Bishop Hill, Illinois. The program

“Revolutionary War” was presented by Tom Ashby. The

refreshment committee included: Marilyn and Wilbur Nelson

(chairmen); Morris Nelson; and Martha and Richard Rittenhouse.

6 December 2014: Christmas Party and Smörgåsbord / Lucia

Program at the Colony School. Each family brought a dish to share

and a gift for the gift exchange. The refreshment committee

included: Sue and Warren Schulz (chairmen); Judy and Roger

Anderson; Cheryl Dowell; Deane Hamline; Delaine Litchfield; Lynne

Myhre; Gwen Strand; and John Tornquist. The Decorating

Committee was Sally and Harlan Nelson; Raffle was coordinated by

Jeff Anderson; and Table Set Up: Jeff Anderson and Rollie Krause.

submitted by Jeff Anderson, Chairman

VIKING # 730

Flint, Michigan

12 October 2014: A meeting took place at Holy Spirit Lutheran

Church in Grand Blanc, Michigan.

9 November 2014: A Thanksgiving Theme meeting was held at

Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Grand Blanc, Michigan.

22 November 2014: A planning meeting for Lucia was hosted at the

home of Sheila and Bill Lundquist in Grand Blanc, Michigan.

13 December 2014: The Annual Christmas Smörgåsbord, Saint

Lucia Pageant, and entertainment were celebrated at the Elk’s Golf

Club in Grand Blanc, Michigan. We enjoyed cocktails and Glögg,

dinner featuring a traditional Swedish Christmas Menu, a special

raffle, and Swedish gifts for sale. This was a family event. Thank

you to Sheila Lundquist for coordinating the reservations. GOD

JUL!

contributor: Debra LaLonde

LINDGREN # 754

Green Bay, Wisconsin

18 October 2014:

James (The Swede)

Eklund Sucha hosted

this meeting at his

home, in Green Bay,

Wisconsin, that has

Swedish décor

throughout, including

the Swedish yellow and

blue painted bathroom!

The gathering included a Fall Svenska Smörgåsbord, a wonderful

Swedish buffet offering a variety of hot dishes and cold meats,

Lushburgers, Swedish meatballs, salads, Salmon and dill salad,

fruit soup, hors d’oeuvres, Swedish cardamom bread, Swedish cake

with whipped cream, apple dessert, other desserts, and beverages

(including Swedish Egg Coffee, compliments of Jim Sucha).

Members brought Swedish dishes to share. Dotty Juengst said the

traditional Swedish table prayer in Swedish. Thank you Jim for

hosting the dinner and meeting. A short business meeting was held.

Our new District Deputy is Brent Erickson, from Whitefish Bay,

Wisconsin, who is a Past Chairman of Linde # 492 and a former

District Treasurer. We discussed bus trips to Chicago, Illinois, to

visit the Swedish Museum, and various fund raisers, including

hosting a Swedish dinner and inviting non – members to join. We

also watched a video on Sweden.

11 November 2014: Because we couldn’t meet at the senior center

(they are remodeling), the meeting was held at the DePere City Hall,

in DePere, Wisconsin. The hostess Allyson Watson, Executive

Director of Definitely DePere and leader of the Swedish Sister City

Group, arranged for the meeting place, and gave a presentation on the

trip to Sweden taken by members of the DePere Sister Cities

International. Allyson Watson would like to explore ways our

different organizations can cooperate to promote both groups. Other

members of the Sister City Group (with Amal, Sweden) joined us:

Ken Pabich, Dana Lex, Kim Thompson, and Mayor Michael Walsh,

who made us feel very welcomed. Many including the mayor visited

Sweden last June and met their counterparts in Sweden and

exchanged many interesting ideas helpful to both cities. Part of their

enthusiasm about Sweden resulted from their most enjoyable trip to

Amal, Sweden. They expressed interest in our activities and we

certainly wish to support the Sister City goals of learning more about

Sweden and its culture. They wish to promote exchange students

from DePere going to Amal and helping Amal students who wish to

study in DePere. In the past we have invited several exchange

students to address our group and enjoyed their participation in our

meetings. We described many of our activities and our focus on

traditions, festivals, history, culture, customs, arts, and foods of

Sweden and other Scandinavian countries. We discussed some of our

plans to become more visible in the community and working with the

DePere Sister City is one such opportunity. We certainly wish to

attract more members for our group. We plan to keep in touch with

them and will email copies of our informative Posten to them. We

hope they may participate in some of our activities. Our sincere

thanks to the Sister City Group for the use of the room and their

hospitality. Dotty and Fred Juengst brought refreshments and coffee.

We discussed nominations of officers for 2015, as follows:

President, Fred Juengst; Vice President, Dennis Miller; Recording

Secretary, Maryl Hitchcock; Financial and Membership Secretary,

Dotty Juengst; and Inner Guard, Diana Adzima. We also discussed

the Lucia Pageant and the Christmas Party.

2 December 2014: We were back to our meeting place at the Brown

County Aging Resource Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The

program was our Lucia Pageant arranged by Cindy Schumerth and

Maria Szymanski. The Lucia program featured Annika Osell and a

12

group of young singers, followed by a sing – a – long of Christmas

songs. Annika Osell has been Lucia for several years and her voice is

wonderful. Following the Lucia program was our regular meeting.

The major business was the election of officers for 2015, planning the

adult Christmas party, and the kick off brunch in January 2015.

Refreshments were provided by Cindy Schumerth.

13 December 2014: Our Christmas Party was hosted by Dotty and

Fred Juengst at their home in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The lodge

provided baked ham, buns, coffee, and fruit punch; attendees brought

dishes for the smörgåsbord. GOD JUL! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

contributor: James Eklund Sucha

JUBILEUM # 755

Madison, Wisconsin

14 September 2014: Our monthly program featured two members

who gave presentations on Alfred Nobel and the Swedish Royal

Family. Audrey Larson gave a fascinating account of Alfred Nobel's

life, including how he was born into poverty when his father's

business failed. He spent his early life with his family in Saint

Petersburg, Russia, where he was educated by private tutors.

Between his hard work and education, he became an outstanding

scientist by harnessing nitroglycerine and developing dynamite.

Kajsa Burling gave an overview of the Swedish Royal Family,

concentrating on the Bernadotte Dynasty, which started with Karl

XIV Johan (Jean Baptiste Bernadotte 1763 - 1844). She summarized

(above) Audrey Larson and Kajsa Burling presented the program.

some of the achievements of early rulers in that line, including

freedom of the press and gender equality rights for inheritance. The

current king, Carl XVI Gustaf, was the first king in modern history to

marry a commoner.

12 October 2014: Member Anne Woodson gave information and

tips on conducting genealogical research using Swedish records. She

has a wealth of knowledge

on how to perform research

quickly and efficiently using

records accessible through

the Internet.

9 November 2014: The

Lodge members were more

active in this monthly

program as Charlotte

Thompson and Trudy

Nordling led the group in

making traditional

Scandinavian crafts.

(above) Gunilla Rubasch made a woven heart basket.

We made wooden tomte and moved onto the more difficult woven

heart baskets (not as easy as they look!). Gunilla Rubasch read the

children's story, "The Tomtes' Christmas Porridge", while

members worked on their crafts. Jo Gelhaus and Gloria Waite were

the hostesses for the event.

14 December 2014: Luciafest was celebrated on Sunday night with a

delicious Julbord (Christmas dinner) and the presentation of Sankta

Lucia (Hanna

Rubasch) and

her attendants

(Jolie Gelhaus

and Cooper

Gelhaus).

(left) Cooper

Gelhaus, Sankta

Lucia Hanna

Rubasch, and

Jolie Gelhaus.

Dinner was

followed by

holiday songs in

Swedish and English, with piano accompaniment by Gunnard

Swanson.

(above) Members and guests enjoyed the Julbord.

submitted by Tracy Melin, Historian

NORDIK FOLK # 761

Munster, Indiana

28 September 2014: What a fun time we had at our first Kubb

Klubb event at Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Lansing, Illinois.

Kubb was played on the lawn; so many Nordik Folk and Nordikids

came to toss the batons on a perfect Sunday afternoon.

7 October 2014: Two more Viking Lectures were shown at the

Munster Branch Library in Munster, Indiana. Snacks and coffee

were served. These lectures are open to all. We had a special visitor,

Kenneth J. Schoon, who is currently writing a book about

Scandinavian immigration and its continued influence in Northwest

Indiana. He has authored the book “Dreams of Duneland”. We were

so lucky to hear many of his stories while researching for his

upcoming book.

13 October 2014: The lodge held a baby shower for Lisa Raddatz,

former Nordikid, and member of Nordik Folk. Lisa Pearson made

13

cupcakes with pink frosting. Some of the gifts had little bird

designs: a sleeper, a sleep sack, and a little hat with eyes and a beak!

Lisa Raddatz LOVES birds, and the baby's name will be "Wren".

20 October 2014: A meeting was held at Ridge United Methodist

Church in Munster, Indiana. The charter was draped in memory of

Ruth Elin Swanson Mertes who passed away on October 15, 2014,

and was one of the original charter members. Lynda Smith reported

on the busy performance schedule for the Nordikids during the

holiday season. There were many activities in the next few months

with all our interest groups.

Jim Nelson, a member of Svea # 253 in Indianapolis, Indiana (where

he currently lives), gave the presentation “Scandinavian Immigration

To Indiana” about Swedes in Northwest Indiana. Jim and his wife

Irene are hoping to move back to the Chesterton, Indiana area where

they lived before. Jim was born in Rensselaer, Indiana, and began

learning Norwegian at home when he was six years old; he has

traveled to all of the Nordic countries and has studied Swedish,

Norwegian, Old Icelandic, Danish, and Finnish. He has a Bachelor of

Music Education from Augustana College, where he studied

Swedish, performed with the Augustana Swedish folk dance team,

and began playing accordion. He also holds a Master’s Degree in

Scandinavian Studies from the University of Wisconsin – Madison,

where he studied Swedish literature, sang with the Bellman - Sallskap

of Madison for two years, directed the

Edvard Grieg Male Chorus, and taught

Norwegian for University Extension and

Sons of Norway. He gave his first

instruction in Swedish at Marycrest

College, Madison. Jim Nelson holds his

Ph.D. in Scandinavian Languages and

Literature from the University of

Washington, Seattle.

Jim Nelson, Svea #253, gave the program

“Scandinavian Immigration To Indiana”.

He was a teaching assistant in

Norwegian for three years, and did his Dissertation on cultural

identity problems for Norwegian – Americans. After college, Jim

taught public school music in Illinois and Wisconsin. Later, he

taught Norwegian, English, German, social studies, and music in the

public schools of Norway. He was a professor of Scandinavian

Studies at colleges in Alberta (Canada) and Minnesota, and taught at

the University of Oslo and the University of Washington. Jim lived

in Canada for 6 years and in Norway for 19 years. After retiring in

Norway, he returned to the USA in 2012 to marry Irene who is also

from Chesterton, Indiana. They are both now retired. Jim Nelson

currently continues research and gives programs on Scandinavian

immigration to the USA, Scandinavian – American humor,

Scandinavian traditional music, and Scandinavians in the American

Civil War. Jim Nelson began performing professionally when he was

14 or 15 years old.

29 October 2014: Congratulations to Lisa Raddatz (member of

Nordik Folk and former Nordikid) and her family on the birth of

Wren Rosemary Jane Raddatz – Hixson, our newest Nordikid, who

has arrived! She weighed in at 8 pounds, and 14 ounces; baby Wren

was 19 ½ inches long.

4 November 2014: Two more Viking Lectures were shown and

discussed at the Munster Branch Library in Munster, Indiana. Coffee

and refreshments were served.

9 November 2014: The annual Viking Fest Pot Luck Dinner was a

great success. There was an abundance of food as usual: pork roast,

Swedish Meatballs, Flygande Jacob, pickled beets, rice pudding and

lingon, cucumbers, fruktsoppa, brownies, cranberry pie, Swedish

pancakes with lingon, potato salad, deviled eggs, Kåldolmar, brod och

smor, mashed potatoes, pea soup, banana bread, fresh salad, and

glögg (especially made by Lisa and Mike Pearson, and Lynda and

Herb Smith). It’s good to share many of our special Scandinavian

dishes passed down from

generation to generation.

Many wore costumes

and we danced around

the tables to celebrate.

Mike Pearson also

displayed his

Scandinavian artifacts.

His collection is very

impressive.

(above) The Shield Wall: Michael Pearson Jr., Herbert Smith,

Michael Pearson Sr., David Nordin, and Rachel Smith.

10 November 2014: A Genealogy workshop with Herb Smith met at

Ridge United Methodist Church in Munster, Indiana. Herb Smith is

helping our entire Lodge with his knowledge on genealogy. We

thank him for his continued interest in helping our members find their

roots.

11 November 2014: The Lodge Scandinavian Craft Club met at

Michael’s Arts and Crafts store to paint and do craft work. We hope

to learn how to make ornaments, jewelry, and other decorative items.

There is also interest in a folk art painting group, and a needlework

group (which could include embroidery, hardanger stitching, knitting,

and / or crochet). This is another way to have fellowship, make crafts

to sell at our events, and tap our hidden talents to benefit our lodge.

17 November 2014: The meeting was held at Ridge United

Methodist Church in Munster, Indiana. At this meeting, nominations

were accepted for officers for 2015. The election will be in January,

2015. Anyone interested in contributing to the lodge as an officer, or

as a committee leader or volunteer, was encouraged to participate.

Announcements were made about the performances of Nordikids

#208, the lodge Scandinavian Craft Club, and the Scandinavian

movie nights.

30 November 2014: The annual Glögg making (and tasting) party

was held at the home of Lynda and Herb Smith in Munster, Indiana.

Lodge members gathered to celebrate the old tradition of preparing

14

the Glögg spiced wine (with a kick) and Apple Pie drink for the

holiday season. The Glögg and Apple Pie drink were bottled and

labeled, to be sold at the Lucia Fest as a fundraiser. Attendees

brought appetizers and snacks to share, and beverages were provided

by the hosts. This was a great way to help our lodge with their

fundraising and allows us a way to have fun activities throughout the

year. Plus, it was good to get together and start the season with this

fiery ritual, bringing warmth to our cold days ahead.

2 December 2014: The next two Viking Lectures were viewed at the

Munster Branch Library in Munster, Indiana. Refreshments / snacks

and coffee were served.

7 December 2014: The annual Lucia Celebration was held at Wicker

Park Social Center in Highland, Indiana. The festive afternoon of

Swedish holiday fun included a Luncheon, the performance of

singing and dancing by the Nordikids # 208, a bake sale

(compliments of our Nordik Bakers), a craft table, raffles, kids’

games, and door prizes. The Lucia Queen for 2014 was Kristine

Pearson, the daughter of Lisa and Michael Pearson of Hammond,

Indiana. [Please read all about Kristine Pearson, Lucia Queen

for 2014, in the YOUTH CORNER on page 16 of this issue.]

Coordinator Lynda Smith said the party was wonderful! The kids

were SO GOOD in their performance! Thank you to all their

teachers (Lynnea Sinwelski, Annelise Nelson, Valerie Cook, and

Annalisa Blue). The dinner was yummie, and all of the sales were so

well organized. Our Kids enjoyed their raffle as this is the highlight

of their day! Thanks to Ingrid and Les Lesko for pulling this all

together. Thanks to all the parents and friends who brought in prizes

to make their day one to remember. Thanks to all the moms and

supporters who baked cookies. Everyone looks forward to those

homemade items and we appreciate the work you did to bake during

this very, very busy week! Tusen Tack! And special thanks to Barb

Hannigan, who has nobody in Nordikids anymore, but who got the

Bake sale set up and running this year; and thanks to all those who

helped her. Our Raffle this year was especially great with all of the

wonderful items on the table! Thanks for your donations, and thank

you for buying tickets to support our causes. Thanks to all the Glögg

makers who helped make this our most successful year, so far. We

still have some glögg left and a few Apple Pie beverages to sell

throughout the season. Another very important person is Fred

Raddatz, who always makes our stage look like a scene out of a

Nordic Christmas Card. Loading and unloading his car, coming early

to set up, leaving late to take it all down --- this is something most of

us take for granted but without his artistic talents, our party room

would just not be as festive! Thank you Fred Raddatz for your

creativity and your dedication, as well as your labor. Lucia Fest was

the perfect way to start off the Christmas season with the Nordikids

Performance! All in all, it was another year of helping our youth

know of their heritage, and our Lodge members of celebrating who

we are.

9 December 2014: The Genealogy workshop met at the home of

Herb and Lynda Smith in Munster, Indiana. Leader Herb Smith

reported that there have been lots of exciting things happening in the

DNA corner, and he was happy to discuss the different tests, and the

results they can yield, in helping you with your searches. Herb Smith

showed segments of different YouTube programs about DNA

research and its use today in genealogy (see page 3, bottom). Herb

Smith also made packets of information for the dozen or so people

who attended. Contact Herb Smith to get the updates on this

information: [email protected], or 219- 923 – 8777.

12 December and 13 December 2014: Four girls representing

Nordikids # 208 and Nordik Folk # 761 participated in the two days

of the Lucia pageant: Sofia Nelson, Emily Pearson, Jennifer

Pearson, and Kaitlin Westlund. They were all in the running for

becoming Lucia Queen. The Lucia Celebration in Chicagoland was

held on two days. The Daley Center had their program on Friday,

December 12. The Swedish American Museum had a program on

Saturday afternoon, December 13, and there was an evening church

service at Ebenezer Lutheran Church; both venues are in

Andersonville, Chicago. Congratulations to all four girls!

(above) Jennifer Pearson, Sofia Nelson, Kaitlin Westlund, and

Emily Pearson.

contributors: Jean Ogrentz, Linnea Ogrentz, Michael Pearson,

and Lynda Smith

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

We read with interest the Swan and Rosanna Swanson

tribute by Earl Hurst in the October Valthornet.

We met Swan and Rosanna many times during our years in

the Vasa Order and counted them as close friends; we

agree with Brother Earl about this fine couple.

They richly deserve the title Mr. and Mrs. Vasa.

There are so many wonderful members in all our lodges

who work very hard for Vasa and most of them behind the

scenes…not needing to be noticed or patted on the back.

They so believe in their heritage and are willing to work hard

in sharing it with their communities.

Swan and Rosanna were such a couple.

However, we know for sure, if it had not been for Swan’s

tireless work and with Rosanna’s help, there would not be a

Svea Lodge today. The lodge had 7 members when Swan

became aware of its existence.

Through his work as an engineer he saw what needed to be

done to get the lodge active again.

He became the lodge’s spark plug.

The rest is history!

We are all blessed having known Swan and he will be

missed and our thoughts and prayers are with Rosanna and

the family.

Richard and Lillemor Horngren

Greenbrier, Tennessee

Linde Lodge 492, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

[Editor’s Note: Swan and Rosanna Swanson joined Svea Lodge

#253 on October 7, 1979. Today, Svea #253 is proud to have 108

members.]

15

YOUTH CORNER

District Lodge Lake Michigan No. 8 Children’s Clubs are:

Vårblomman #54 – North side of Chicago, Illinois:

(773) 282 - 9423

Förgät Mig Ej #64 – Far Northwestern suburbs of

Chicago, Illinois: (847) 516 - 3103

Nordikids #208 – Northwest Indiana and southern

suburban Chicago, Illinois: (219) 923 - 8777;

http://www.nordikids.com/

Remember: Our Youth are Our Future!

In Truth and Unity,

Lynda Ann Smith

District Lodge # 8 Youth Supervisor /

Grand Lodge Youth Director

NORDIKIDS # 208

19 October 2014: Nordikids performed and entertained

members and guests at a Church Supper at Westminster

Presbyterian Church, in Munster, Indiana.

27 October 2014: A Nordikids Fun Night was held at the

home of Annalisa and Daniel Blue. We roasted hotdogs

over fire pits, and made s’mores after dinner. The full

sized outdoor basketball court was the venue for soccer

and basketball games, cartwheels, and gymnastics!

(left) Zoey Blue

(age 2) and

Brooklyn Sinwelski

(age 3) enjoyed the

Fun Night.

The children

searched for

“hidden”

pumpkins which

they took home to

carve for

Hallowe’en. The

youngsters and

parents enjoyed

good food and a fun fall outdoors event.

2 November 2014: Scandinavian Underground --- some

great news about a Concert! Scandinavian singers Kendall

and Ellen Svengalis from North Stonington, Connecticut,

were in town and agreed to take part in a concert in

Fellowship Hall at Westminster Presbyterian Church, in

Munster, Indiana. Northwest Indiana's own Nordikids #

208 Children’s Club also performed Scandinavian music

and dance. There was some time set aside for a sing –

a - long as well. Coffee (naturally) and Scandinavian

pastries were served immediately following the

entertainment. Thanks to Lynda Smith who arranged the

program. This was a free concert, enjoyed by fellow

Scandinavian relatives and friends.

15 November 2014: The Nordikids performed at the

Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, Illinois, for

the Christmas Around The World festival. It is a beautiful

venue for our Nordikids to start off the holiday season of

performance.

The Museum of Science and Industry’s 73rd annual

Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light features

more than 50 trees and displays, beautifully decorated by

volunteers from Chicago’s ethnic communities to reflect

their diverse culture and holiday traditions.

Pictured at the Parade Of Nations Tree Lighting Ceremony are

Musical Director Lynnea Sinwelski (far left); Zoey Blue (age 2)

and Brooklyn Sinwelski (age 3), (center front); and Annalisa Blue

(back row, right, under sleigh).

Guests can stroll through the dazzling forest of trees, enjoy

intermittent falling “snow” every half hour and savor the

16

performances of various dance and choral groups on the

Holiday Stage.

This year’s Christmas Around the World and Holidays of

Light features a Disney theme, highlighting temporary

exhibit Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives, presented

by D23: The Official Disney Fan Club. The Museum’s 45 -

foot Grand Tree, located in the Rotunda, pays homage to

the exhibit with more than 30,000 twinkling lights and

hundreds of Disney - inspired ornaments and trimmings.

Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives offers more than

300 artifacts and hands - on experiences that tell the story

of Walt Disney’s innovations and legacy. New for the

holiday season, see costumes from Disney films such

as The Santa Clause and Maleficent, learn about the

making of the animated film Frozen, and even sketch

beloved new characters from some of your favorite Disney

movies! The celebration runs through January 4, 2015.

Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light are

included in Museum Entry, as are all performances. An

additional ticket is required for Treasures of the Walt

Disney Archives.

6 December 2014: The Nordikids were invited to perform

and sing a 30 – minute presentation at the Dorothy Buell

Welcome Center at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in

Chesterton, Indiana. The program and other activities

were provided by the Park Rangers and the Friends of the

Indiana Dunes. Park Ranger Jean – Pierre Anderson said

the program was a wonderful success, and thanked the

Nordikids for being part of this year’s Holiday Traditions In

The Dunes program. The Friends of the Indiana Dunes

made a donation to the Children’s Club to support their

education and activities.

7 December 2014: The 14th annual Sankta Lucia

Celebration / LuciaFest was held at Wicker Park Social

Center in Highland, Indiana. The festive afternoon of

Swedish holiday fun included a Luncheon, the performance

of singing and dancing by the Nordikids # 208, a bake sale,

a craft table, raffles, kids’ games, and door prizes.

Our Lucia for 2014 was Kristine

Michelle Pearson, the daughter

of Lisa and Michael Pearson of

Hammond, Indiana, and the

granddaughter of Mary Brown

and the late Rodney Brown,

and the late Harriet and Jack

Pearson.

(left) Kristine Michelle Pearson

was Lucia for 2014.

She graced us with a beautiful

song and proudly wears the

crown this year. Kristine

Pearson is 10 years old, and

she has four siblings. She

attends Saint John Bosco

School in Hammond, Indiana, where she is in the 4th grade

and is an honor roll student. Kristine loves to read, draw,

and is learning to play the piano. She loves art and music,

and sings in the Choir at Saint John Bosco School.

Kristine Pearson has been a member of Nordikids # 208

since the age of 3, but she has been coming to Nordikids

since she was born (her four older siblings had been the

group since it started). Kristine sang the solo “Adventstid”.

Kristine's father Mike Pearson, Sr. was the first

Chairman of Nordik Folk Lodge # 761 and is currently Vice

District Master for District Lodge Lake Michigan # 8. Her

older brother Michael Pearson, Jr. is the current Chairman

of Nordik Folk # 761. There were 21 young members aged

from 2 to 20 years old on stage to sing for an hour.

Our Nordikids performed many Swedish traditional holiday

songs (Staffan Stalledräng, Nu Tändas, Mössens Julafton,

etc.) and some new Nordic songs from the Disney musical

“Frozen” (our theme this year); we enjoyed hearing, “Do

You Want To Make A Snowman”, and “Let It Go”. It was

amazing how many of our very young children knew all the

words to these songs. The young members have been

practicing every week since September and their hard work

showed! They charmed the crowd of over 120 in

attendance. We are so thankful for our director, Lynnea

Sinwelski who spent many hours teaching them to sing.

Also we are thankful for Fred Raddatz who dazzles us

every year with a wooden background set for the

Nordikids. Thank you Lynnea Sinwelski and Fred Raddatz!

The meals for our Nordikids were complimentary, as our

way of thanking them for their hard work all semester

long! Thank you to all the parents who bring their children

every week to learn about the culture of their ancestors,

and to help us keep these rich traditions alive and well here

in America! We salute you! You are all appreciated and

without this collective effort, our Luciafest could never

happen! It was the perfect way to start off the Christmas

season with the Nordikids Performance!

14 December 2014: The final Nordikids Performance of

the Christmas season took place at the Indiana Welcome

Center in Hammond, Indiana. The program went very well

and there was a huge crowd at the Indiana Welcome

center. It was fun for the kids. This is great local exposure

for our talented children’s group.

contributors: Jean Ogrentz and Lynda Smith

SAINT LUCIA EVENTS

6 December 2014: The Chellberg Farm and the Dorothy

Buell Welcome Center at Dunes National Lakeshore in

Chesterton, Indiana were the scenes of Christmas

17

programs and activities. Marilyn Arvidson reports that this

is her 25th year with this unique program.

6 December and 7 December 2014: The Swedish

American Museum held their Julmarknad.

12 December and 13 December 2014: The Lucia

Celebration in Chicagoland was held over two days. The

Daley Center had their program on Friday, December 12,

2014. The Swedish American Museum had a program on

Saturday afternoon, December 13, 2014, and there was an

evening church service at Ebenezer Lutheran Church; both

venues are in Andersonville, Chicago. Four girls

representing Nordikids # 208 and Nordik Folk # 761

participated in the two days of the pageant: Sofia Nelson,

Emily Pearson, Jennifer Pearson, and Kaitlin Westlund.

Congratulations to all four girls!

(above) Jennifer Pearson, Emily Pearson, Sofia Nelson, and

Kaitlin Westlund at the Daley Center.

In Sweden, the traditional Christmas Greeting is God Jul!

Saint Lucia Day is celebrated December 13. Before dawn,

the youngest girl in the family dresses in white robes and a

red sash and serves her family coffee and Saint Lucia

buns. Atop her head she wears an evergreen wreath with

tall white candles. "Star boys" accompany her wearing

white shirts and pointed hats. In Swedish homes,

Christmas is time for a true "smörgåsbord" (a buffet of

countless dishes), including lutfisk (fish soaked in lye to

make it more tender) and rice porridge. An almond is

hidden in the porridge and the eligible man or woman who

finds it will be married the next year.

Nordikids Musiklubb: Nordikids is a not – for – profit educational

group supported in part by Vasa Order Of America, and in part by

fundraising. We strive to promote the culture of Scandinavia and all

funds received are used to pay for educational opportunities for the

children and to afford them with materials and experiences that will

increase their knowledge of their rich cultural heritage. Who can join

Nordikids? Our members range in age from 3 years to 21 years.

They are all from families interested in learning about the culture of

the Nordic countries. Classes include: Swedish language instruction,

choral singing, craft making, cultural field trips, and folk dancing. The

meetings are Monday evenings, 6:30 pm to 8:15 pm, at Ridge United

Methodist Church, in Munster, Indiana. Call 219 – 923 – 8777 for

more information.

Nordik Folk No. 761 / Nordikids No. 208

Holiday Tradition In The Indiana Dunes

Breaking Away From Modern Christmas

National Lakeshore program focuses on

pioneer holiday customs

(left) Marissa Sullivan re-

enacted a Sankta Lucia

procession at the Chellberg

Farmhouse during a past

Holiday Tradition in the Indiana

Dunes program. Former Lucia

Marissa Sullivan is a great –

great - great - granddaughter of

the original Chellbergs. Sankta

Lucia is one of the Swedish

holiday traditions

presented each year during the

program at the Chellberg Farm.

Porter, Indiana: Ever wonder

how early settlers in the area celebrated Christmas? The

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore offered a peek into

traditional customs through its annual Holiday Traditions in

the Indiana Dunes program held on Saturday, December 6,

2014.

Visitors of all ages enjoyed live holiday music, savored

tasty treats, toured two historic homes decked out for the

season, and learned more about pioneer customs

celebrated during this time of year. "It's a nice way to

break away from the modern Christmas and look at some

of the basic type things that can be done," Information

Clerk Ryan Koepke said.

Ryan Koepke said the event began a few years ago as a

"way to share some of the cultures of the holidays of the

people that lived at two of our historical sites". The Holiday

Traditions in the Indiana Dunes program is popular with

local and out – of - state visitors, especially those from the

regional Swedish community, Ryan Koepke said.

At the Chellberg Farm, located in Porter, Indiana,

volunteers in traditional Swedish dress shared legends of

Jul Tomte (Santa) and Sankta Lucia. Visitors viewed an

example of a typical Swedish holiday feast and enjoyed

complimentary Christmas cookies. Santa also was on

hand to visit with children and listen to their holiday

requests.

The Nordic Kids performed a 30 - minute presentation of

Swedish songs in traditional dress.

From the farm, visitors were invited to walk down the trail

or take a shuttle to the Bailly Homestead, a National

Historic Landmark, where they could discover more about

the French - Canadian holiday customs possibly practiced

by pioneer Joseph Bailly and his family. At the homestead,

visitors heard traditional holiday songs and stories,

sampled some of the Yule Log cake, and warmed up with

some hot apple cider.

Families could make their own old - fashioned paper

chains, or color an ornament for their tree at home, at the

Visitor Center, located in Porter, Indiana. Additional

activities also were available at the Douglas Center,

located in Gary, Indiana. Admission and parking was free

for the event.

Posted: Saturday, November 29, 2014

By KIM NOWATZKE For The News-Dispatch

18

Calling All College Students!

District No. 8 offers scholarships to deserving

youth for College tuition assistance.

* The applicant must be attending college currently

or a senior in high school.

* The scholarships will be for the 2015 - 2016

school year and will be for a minimum of $1,000.

* Applicants must be either high school seniors or

current college students.

* Application can be made each year a student

attends college full time (over 12 hours of credit

each).

* Applicants must be members since on or before

January 2013 (two years prior to application).

* Application forms are available online. Go to:

http://www.vasaorder.net/news.cfm?lodge=D8

* Deadline to apply is February 28, 2015. (must be

received or postmarked by this date)

Language Camp Opportunity

Our District is very supportive of our youth, and

each year we budget funds to make it possible for

several of them to attend Language Camp at

Concordia Language Villages in Bemidji,

Minnesota. In the past, it was used primarily for

going to the Swedish camp / Sjölunden, but it may

be used for any of the Scandinavian languages

offered there as well. Each of our Children’s Clubs

may nominate one member to send each year. If

approved, they receive full paid tuition and up to

$300 travel money. Youngsters who have a parent

that has been a member (for at least two years) of a

Vasa lodge in an area where no Children’s Club

exists may also be eligible for one of these awards,

if funds are available.

Application forms are available online. Go to:

http://www.vasaorder.net/news.cfm?lodge=D8

* The deadline for these applications is March 15,

2015.

For further information on either award, contact

the Supervisor of Children’s and Youth Clubs,

Lynda Ann Smith, at [email protected] or at:

1502 Azalea Drive

Munster, Indiana 46321

home: 219-923-8777

cell: 219-741-8875

HÄR OCH DÄR

by Lillemor Horngren

JOHN ERICSSON

The Swedish

Mechanical Engineer

and Inventor

John Ericsson was born at

Långbanshyttan in Värmland,

Sweden, on July 31 1803. He

and his brother Nils worked

with their father Olaf during the excavation of Göta

Kanal. The architect of that project Baltzar von Platen

took note of the brothers’ extraordinary skills. On his

recommendations, John and Nils Ericsson served as

cadets at the Swedish Royal Navy and worked as

trainees at the canal project. John, at age 14, worked as

a surveyor.

John Ericsson joined the Swedish Army at age 17. In

his spare time he constructed a heat engine. He resigned

from the Army in 1826 and moved to England.

However his heat engine did not work in England where

they burned coal. He had used birch wood in Sweden.

This did not discourage him from continuing his

inventions using steam engines on various projects.

The cost of his many inventions and failures put John in

a debtors’ prison. He married 19 year old Amelia Byam

during that time. The marriage turned out to be a

disaster and they stayed separated until Amelia's

passing.

John Ericsson worked on and improved ship designs.

The British Admiralty disapproved the changes. An

American captain, Robert Stockton, asked John to

design a propeller steamer and invited him to bring this

invention to the USA.

John Ericsson moved to New York in 1839. The plan

was for John to oversee a new class of frigates.

President John Tyler made some funds available for the

project. However it was not enough so John had to

settle for a smaller sloop, the 700 ton USS Princeton,

which took 3 years to complete.

John Ericsson was the inventor of many ship designs but

his most famous one was the Monitor.

John Ericsson passed away on March 8, 1862 on the

anniversary of the famous Hampton Roads battle where

his Monitor played an important role.

He is buried in Filipstad, Värmland, in Sweden.

19

OLD WORLD WISCONSIN

A Wisconsin Historic Site

Old World Wisconsin is an outdoor ethnic homestead park

southeast of Madison, Wisconsin, patterned after the outdoor

“folk museums” in Oslo, Norway (Norsk folkemuseum) and

Stockholm, Sweden (Skansen). In the early 1970s a team of

archaeologists carefully selected and dismantled immigrant

farmhouses, and sometimes the smaller barns and sheds,

labeled the parts, shipped them to their site near Eagle,

Wisconsin, and reassembled them in scattered, small – scale

farms. The buildings were built by immigrants from Norway

(2 farms and a one – room school), Denmark, Finland (2

farms), Poland, and Germany (3 farms); there is also a Czech

shoe shop, a German blacksmith shop, and a “Scandinavian”

(Norwegian or Swedish) wagon shop. There is also a cluster

of Yankee farms and other buildings, with artists and artisans

who do demonstrations for the public. Enjoy a full day where

stories of immigrants are shared; there’s plenty to do, and the

settlement of the Midwest comes to life. Discover ten

immigrant farmsteads and a crossroads village from the 1800s

and early 1900s. Help farm families with their daily chores

and join in fun historic games. Meet sheep, cows, oxen, and

other animals; check out their Historic Breeds program.

Explore farmsteads, forests, and prairies by foot or hop aboard

a motorized tram. This site is well worth seeing!

Scandinavian Park, Inc. NFP

VASA PARK

South Elgin, Illinois

Greetings from the Board and members of Vasa Park,

South Elgin, Illinois! We are located on Route 31 on the

edge of the Fox River. Our group is comprised of people

who care deeply about the future of this beautiful park and

keeping our Scandinavian heritage alive.

The 14th Annual Vasa Park Fish Boil and Harvest Fest

was on October 4th. Entertainment included “Pat Spaeth

and her Accordion”. The “Boil”, all the “fixens”, coffee,

and dessert were included, and a hot dog plate was also

available for purchase. The End Of Year Cleanup Day at

Vasa Park was November 1, 2014.

As we are a not – for - profit organization, we rely on our

membership fees, fundraisers, rentals, and donations to

keep us going. All work is done by our Board, interested

members, and other people who love this Park. We are

always looking for sponsorships and volunteers. Why not

come out and see this beautiful place. If you haven’t been

to the Park for a while, please come and see all of the

improvements we have made and learn about the future of

the Park. Website: www.vasaparkil.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/vasapark.il

Don’t forget to “like” our site and keep up with the Park

news.

Jackie Moline

Secretary of Scandinavian Park, Inc., NFP

Sweden in 2015

A Great Time to Travel

Gunnard Swanson is organizing a spectacular trip

through Sweden in August 2015. The twelve - day trip

starts in Copenhagen, Denmark, and ends in Stockholm,

Sweden. Cities on the tour are Malmö, Karlskrona,

Växjö, Gothenburg, Linköping, Falun, Sundborn, Uppsala,

and Stockholm.

There are too many attractions to mention now.

Karlskrona is the town from which many of our ancestors

sailed. Växjö houses the emigrant museum and some of

the artifacts of Vilhelm Moberg, who wrote the famous

emigrant series, and the “kingdom of glass.” Gothenburg

offers a variety of small fishing towns and statues of Carl

Milles. Linköping is the center of linen in Sweden. We

will visit a factory where beautiful woven tablecloths are

made and visit “Old Linköping” a living museum of 19th

Century Sweden. Falun is in Dalarna where we will visit

the factory where the famous red horses (“dalahäster”)

are made and painted. Dalarna is also home to the

estate of Carl Larsson. His home is a rambling house,

adding a new room with every new member of the

family. We will stop in Uppsala and the great Uppsala

Cathedral, which was renovated many years ago. I have

a secret about the cleaning of the cathedral walls. Come

along and be “in the know.” Stockholm, of course, is an

amazing city, called the “Venice of the North.” Spend

three days in the capital city with city tours, a day in the

archipelago, a quiet stroll through the old city, and an

amazing visit to the Vasa Ship that sank on its maiden

voyage in 1628. Learn why the ship was doomed to

failure.

This is a preliminary itinerary. If you register early and

give me places in Sweden you would like to visit, we shall

try to spend time in the area of your ancestors.

Cost for the ground travel will be about $2,000. I have

asked the tour company to include ground travel,

breakfast and dinner each day, entrance fees, and all

taxes and fees. Cost is with double occupancy; there is a

single room supplement of about $500. Each person is

responsible to find his or her own transportation to

Copenhagen.

Each traveler can arrive early in Sweden, visit relatives,

and join the tour in Copenhagen. Each traveler can

extend his or her vacation and travel to relatives in

Sweden, add a fjord trip in Norway, or visit Finland or

countries across the Baltic like Russia, Latvia, or Estonia.

This is the vacation of a lifetime! Join us this August.

The travel bureau and I will be glad to help you in any

way we can. With airfare, we are trying to keep the total

cost to under $3,000.00 per person.

Please email Gunnard at [email protected]

with your interest. I will decide whether the trip will go

in early 2015. If you are eager to join us, please let us

know if you want to visit a specific area of Sweden. I will

try to accommodate realistic wishes.

Trip to Sweden / August 2015

Contact: [email protected]

Gunnard Swanson

908 Harding Street

Oregon, Wisconsin 53575 – 2856

(608) 835 - 5152

20

Drink Swedish And Swedish-ish Beer

To Raise Money To Rebuild

Andersonville's Water Tower

On Thursday, October 16, 2014, the Swedish American

Museum hosted Skål: A Celebration of Swedish Beer. Attendees

learned about Sweden’s beer industry and recent cross -

pollination between the Swedish and American beer scenes. They

also got to sample beers from Sweden and those that have been

influenced by Swedish and the larger Scandinavian culture in

some way.

Beers included Sweden’s classic Carnegie Porter by Carlsberg

and Hammarby Syndrome by Brooklyn Brewery, which was

created to celebrate the opening of their own sister brewery in

Stockholm this year. Organizer Jenny Pfäfflin, a certified

cicerone (it’s like a beer sommelier) said “My interest in Swedish

beer stems from some

data the Brewers

Association released

awhile ago, stating that

after Canada, more

American beer was

being shipped to

Sweden than any other

place in the world. That

is a pretty impressive

statistic, considering the

whole of the Swedish

population is about the

size of New York City.

The Swedes have always had a lively home - brewing culture, but

it wasn't until the mid - 1990s, when Sweden joined the European

Union and alcohol regulations were lessened and commercial

beers could be more than 5.6% ABV, that its craft brewing

industry started to take hold. This, coupled with the influence of

the USA's brewing culture, makes for a really interesting beer

scene.”

But the most exciting beer to try was a collaboration between our

own Andersonville Brewing and Metropolitan Brewing called

Vattentorn, which they created

to support The Museum's

Water Tower Fund to restore

the Andersonville Water

Tower.

Proceeds of Skål, which

roughly means “cheers” in

Swedish, will also go to that

fund, which aims to rebuild

the historic water tower with

the Swedish flag painted on it

that proudly overlooked the

neighborhood until last year’s

brutal winter rendered it unstable. “I hope people who come out

to Skål take home some cool Swedish beer facts to impress people

with at cocktail parties. But really, it's an opportunity to support

the neighborhood—the event is to raise money for the Swedish

American Museum's Water Tower Fund. As an Andersonville

resident for more than 7 years, I miss looking up at it each day—

because not only was it a symbol of Andersonville's Swedish

heritage, it was a symbol of my neighborhood's, well,

neighborhoodiness” Pfäfflin said.

2014 Oscar Fritiof Ander Lecture

in Immigration History

Swenson Swedish Immigration Research Center

presented the 2014 Oscar Fritiof Ander Lecture in

Immigration History

"Voluntary Religion and the Swedish

Immigrant Experience"

by Dr. Philip J. Anderson

Saturday October 18, 2014

Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois

This year we were very pleased to have speaker Dr. Philip

J. Anderson, professor emeritus of church history at North Park

Seminary in Chicago, Illinois. One of Dr. Philip J. Anderson´s

special fields is the role of religion among Swedish Americans.

It is out of that interest that his topic for this year´s lecture

came: "Voluntary Religion and the Swedish Immigrant

Experience." The lecture took place on October 18, 2014 in

Hanson Hall of Science on the campus of Augustana College.

It was free of charge and open to everyone.

He is a leading authority on Swedish - American history,

and has published widely in the field. Among his many

publications are: "Pilgrim Voices: Puritans, Immigrants, and

Historical Research" (2014), Norwegians and Swedes in the

United States; Friends and Neighbors (2011); "In the Snare of

Uncle Sam: Carl Johan Nyvall's ´A true story of my experience

and treatment at my landing on Ellis Island´, 1901" (2004);

Swedes in the Twin Cities: Immigrant life and Minnesota's

Urban Frontier (2001); and American Religious Influences in

Sweden (1997).

Educated in the U.S. and Great Britain, Dr. Philip J.

Anderson has been active in many Swedish - American

organizations and has served as the President of the Swedish -

American Historical Society for over a quarter of a century. In

2008 he was made a Commander of the Royal Order of the

Polar Star by the King of Sweden.

Susanne Titus

[email protected]

SONS OF NORWAY

The Sons of Norway Fosselyngen Lodge # 82 invites the public

to their monthly Torsk Dinners at the Norway House, 7507 West

Oklahoma Avenue, West Allis, Wisconsin, from 4 pm to 7 pm.

The buffet includes: Boiled Cod Fish, Norwegian Meat Balls,

Boiled Potatoes, Vegetables, Pickled Beets, Cranberry Sauce,

Flat Bread, Dessert, and Coffee. The cost is: $13.00 for Adults

and $5.00 for Children (4 years old to 11 years old). Dinners

were held on October 25, November 15, and December 13, 2014.

Future dinners will be on January 24 and February 28, 2015.

Call (414) 321-2637 for future reservations.

The Valthornet is available on the VOA web site. To access

the quarterly Valthornet newsletters on the web, go to:

www.vasaorder.com; click on “Lodge Directory” (left

side); click on “DL Lake Michigan No. 8” (left column);

click on “Lake Michigan No. 8”; click on “Newsletters”;

then click on the date of the Valthornet desired.

At times, the Valthornet on the web site may contain one or

more additional page(s) than the USPS mailed version,

because there is more news to report.

21

IN MEMORY

Ruth Elin Swanson Mertes – Siljan–Mora–Tuna No. 134

and Nordik Folk No. 761

Ruth Elin Swanson Mertes, age 98, of

Munster, Indiana, passed away

peacefully at home with her family on

Wednesday, October 15, 2014. She

was born on March 22, 1916, and is

survived by one loving daughter,

Lynda Ann (Herbert W. III) Smith and

one loving son, Mark (Sue) Mertes;

loving grandchildren: Lynnea (Jason)

Sinwelski, Annalisa (Dan) Blue,

Herbert Winfield (Rachel) Smith IV, and Shelley (Jason)

Sontag; loving great grandchildren: Clayton, Jaylyn,

Ashlyn, and Brooklyn Sinwelski; Kenneth, Abigail, and Zoey

Blue, and Arya Sontag; and one loving sister, Doris Park of

Minnesota. Ruth Mertes was preceded in death by her

loving husband Kenneth Peter Mertes. Ruth Mertes was

the oldest charter member of Nordik Folk No. 761, as well

as a dual member of Siljan – Mora – Tuna No. 134. The

charter was draped in remembrance of Ruth Mertes at the

Nordik Folk # 761 meeting on October 20, 2014. Ruth was

such a special member of the lodge, and she will be

missed. The family held a celebration of her life, followed

by a luncheon, on November 22, 2014 at Westminster

Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall in Munster, Indiana,

and toasted with Glögg in her memory. A special thank you

to her caretaker angels: Angie, LuAnn, and Sherry.

Donations can be made to NORDIKIDS No. 208 in her

loving memory.

Judith Stuyvesant – Kronan No. 179

Judith Marie Erickson Stuyvesant was

born at the tail end of the roaring

twenties on February 1st, 1929, a few

weeks before the stock market crash

in 1929. She was the daughter of

Swedish immigrant parents, Smars

Calle Erickson (later Anglicized to Carl

Erickson) and Greta Forsberg. Music

and Swedish culture were an

important part of her life. She loved

both traditional Swedish songs and

dances and the more popular music of the current day.

She graduated from Taft High School in 1946 at the age of

17, since she had skipped the 6th grade all together. Later,

Judith attended Northwestern University in Evanston,

Illinois, studying toward a degree musical performance.

During the college years, she competed in a singing talent

show (The Ted Mac Amateur Hour) on WGN TV and won.

She also sang as part of the chorus for the Chicago Lyric

Opera until a devastating case of whooping cough damaged

the cartilage in her ribs. She was forced to leave school

and was on rest and recuperation for a period of almost 9

months, before she could sing again. Married in 1949 she

had 2 children in the 1950s: Dale Halvard Hanson, a son,

born June 13, 1952 and Audrey Judith Hanson (later

Fields), born January 4, 1954. She was very involved with

her children in the early years, always playing in the back

yard and teaching them how to do cartwheels. Around

the house there was always music; popular tunes of the era

as well as Swedish tunes at Midsommar and Christmas.

As a single mother, later in the 1960s, and trying to make

ends meet, Judith would occasionally sing modern tunes at

some of the local jazz pubs on the north side of Chicago,

Illinois. Her longtime friend and later companion, Fred

Rundquist, was instrumental in getting these part time

appearances. Even many years later there were many

occasions when Fred Rundquist would play his guitar and

Judith Stuyvesant would accompany with the vocals.

Professionally, Judith worked in the insurance business,

later as a Group Underwriting Specialist for Rollins, Burdick

and Hunter. In 1980 she served as President of the Life

Executives Club in Chicago, the first woman ever to hold

that role. The 1980s saw many changes in her life. She

became the grandmother of 4 grandsons, Gregory Eric

Hanson (January 17, 1983), Eric Robert Fields (June 8

1983), Keith Clayton Hanson (November 11, 1985), and

David Carl Fields February 15, 1988). Life was full for

"Grandma Judy" and she enjoyed watching her grandsons

grow into fine adults, and later danced with all four when her

oldest grandson Gregory was married in July, 2010, 2014.

In addition, during her retirement, Judith was an integral

part of the Swedish Museum's cast of volunteers. She often

was asked to help folks translate Swedish documents that

they had from their parents, and she was doing this on a

typewriter! Once introduced to a computer and word

processor, she was in 7th heaven. She later became the

queen of email messages, sharing all kinds of news and

funny quotes with relatives and friends, both here in the

USA and those over in Sweden. Judith Marie Erickson will

be joyfully remembered as a mother, grandmother, and

friend by all who knew her and she will hold a very special

place in our hearts for years to come. An Interment Service

was conducted at Rosehill Cemetary on October 9, 2014,

and a Celebration of Life was held at the Swedish American

Museum on October 9, 2014, in Chicago, Illinois. Donations

can be made to the Swedish American Museum in her

honor.

Harmony Anderson – Kronan No. 179

Harmony B. Anderson (nee Wagher), 93 of Chicago, Illinois,

passed away at her home on September 20, 2014. She

was the beloved wife of the late Carl Anderson, loving

mother of Jay A. Anderson and Ross A. Anderson. A

Memorial Service was held on Saturday October 18, 2014

at Summerdale Community United Church of Christ,

Chicago, Illinois. Another Memorial Service was held on

Saturday, October 25, 2014, at First Methodist Church

Chapel, Galesburg, Illinois. Rev. Mary Runge officiated.

Harmony Anderson was a member of Bethany United

Methodist Church, Kronan Lodge 179 V.O.A., Eulich Home

For Children Auxiliary, Open Door Women's Club,

Andersonville AYO. Memorials may be made to the Animal

Welfare League, Wabash Facility, 6224 South Wabash

Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637. Cremation Interment at

Memorial Park, Galesburg, Illinois.

Esther Vega Schag – Kronan No. 179

Esther Vega Schag, 97 years old, a longtime resident of

Chicago and River Grove, Illinois, passed away Tuesday,

September 30, 2014 at Presence Resurrection Hospital in

Chicago, Illinois. She was born on February 22, 1917, the

22

daughter of the late Eric and Judith (Karlson) Carlson. She

is survived by her sons Michael (Melvern deceased) and

Ronald (Judith); her grandchildren Theresa (Michael) Brake;

Michael (Kathleen); Russell (Rita); Judith (Carl) Sundell;

Robert; Nicole (Marc) Maher; Leslie (William) Wehrs; eleven

great - grandchildren; one great - great - grandchild; four

nieces; and two nephews. She was preceded in death by

her husband of seventy - seven years, Michael (The Saint);

her daughter Lynne Awad (Issa deceased); a sister Ruth

Weissmiller; and her parents Eric and Judith Carlson. She

was a longstanding member of Kronan Lodge 179 of the

Vasa Order Of America. Donations in her memory to the

charity of your choice are appreciated.

Florence Hillegonds – Bessemer No. 203

Florence L. Hillegonds (née Berglund),

91 years old, of Blue Island, Illinois,

died in April 2013. She was the

beloved wife of the late Henry, loving

mother of Larry and the late Karen

Naughton; cherished grandmother of

John Naughton Jr., Michael (Stacey)

Naughton, David (Tina) Naughton,

Tony (Brianna) Blake, and Kristin

Hillegonds; devoted great - grandmother of eight, dear

sister of the late Lawrence and the late Lillian (late Leonard)

Peterson. Visitation was April 18, 2013 at the Krueger

Funeral Home, Blue Island, Illinois. Interment at Evergreen

Cemetery, Evergreen Park, Illinois.

Blanche E. Nicely – Bessemer No. 203

Blanche E. Nicely, née Nelson, 88, of

Fairview Heights, Illinois, died on

Monday, September 22, 2014, in

Memorial Hospital in Belleville, Illinois.

She was born Saturday, November 7,

1925, in Chicago, Illinois. Blanche was a

homemaker and also worked as an office

assistant for an optometrist. She was a

member of Jerusalem Lutheran Church,

VASA Order of America, president of Des Plaines Woman's

Club, VFW and American Legion Woman's Division. Her

husband Walter Nicely was District Master for District Lodge

Illinois No. 8 in 1972 and 1973 (now District Lodge Lake

Michigan No. 8). Blanche Nicely was also the leader of

Solstrålen in the 1960s and of Vasa Hopp Tonår (Vasa

Hopp teenagers); she was one of the leaders for the

Midwest Vasa Barnen Tour to Sweden in 1963. Blanche

Nicely was preceded in death by her husband, Walter H.

Nicely; parents Nels R. and Florence née (Petters) Nelson;

sister Shirley Szok; and a brother Bruce Nelson. Surviving

are her children, Rev. Doug (Vicki) Nicely of Mascoutah,

Illinois; Sharon (Karl) Kuntzelman of Des Moines, Iowa; and

William (Vita Epifanio) Nicely of Chesterfield, Missouri;

grandchildren: Adam Kuntzelman, Nellie Kuntzelman, Heidi

Mele, Brian (Renée) Brasher, and Kristi (John) Voeller; and

great – grandchildren: Christopher Kuntzelman, Nicholas

Kuntzelman, Keith Mele, Sarah Mele, Avery Brasher and

Emmalena Voeller. Funeral services were held at Kurrus

Funeral Home Chapel, with Pastor Mark Wiesner officiating.

Interment was at Ridgewood Memorial Park in Des Plaines,

Ilinois. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s

Association.

Astrid Anna Marie Peterson – Brahe No. 245

Astrid Anna Marie (Bergman) Peterson, of Whitewater,

Wisconsin, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family

on September 22, 2014. Astrid (Asta,

as she was better known in Rockford)

Peterson was born in Rockford, Illinois,

on August 8, 1925, to John Oscar and

Hilda Bergman, both immigrants from

Sweden. She graduated from

Rockford East High School in 1943.

World War II was at its peak, and Bob

Peterson, her high school sweetheart,

had enlisted in the U. S. Coast Guard in October 1942.

They were married on one of his leaves on February 5,

1944, at Salem Lutheran Church. In November of 1945,

Bob Peterson was discharged from the Coast Guard, and

they settled down and raised a family in Rockford, and were

blessed with three children: Gary, John and Janice. Asta

and Bob Peterson both were active in school and church

affairs. She also enjoyed playing bridge with some of her

neighborhood friends and it was a source of many happy

hours throughout her life.

In 1953, they built a home on Whitewater Lake. Asta

Peterson and the children spent many happy times there.

In 1973, they made it their permanent residence, and Asta

and Bob Peterson enjoyed working —she at the University

of Wisconsin - Whitewater and Bob at Moksnes

Manufacturing. They owned property on the lake for 34

years. Astrid enjoyed volunteering at Irvin Young

Auditorium, the Whitewater Public Library, and the Head

Start Program in which she read to children in day care

centers. Astrid taught Sunday School and even served as

Sunday School superintendent in 1990.

During this time, she arranged for the murals in fellowship

hall to brighten up the area and took great pride in this

endeavor. Between Rockford and Whitewater, she taught

Sunday School for 20 - plus years. She also enjoyed and

played a lot of bridge, and in later years arranged bridge

sessions with friends in nursing homes. In 1981, John

Peterson married Linda Koenitzer and they had three

children, Lindsay (Scott) Wysocki, Sam and Megan whom

Grandma and Grandpa adored. They spent many happy

hours with them. In 1989, they both retired and traveled to

many favorite places in the U.S., Europe, and Hawaii. Gary

Peterson married Barbara Westerhof in 1989. They loved

to travel, and included Bob and Astrid on many of their trips

with the special one being to take Asta to London and

Greece for a month in honor of her 80th birthday. Jan

Peterson married Maurice Hincapie in 1997, and in 2002

they welcomed a baby girl, Faith, and three years later, a

son, Robert Elias. These two have been an added bonus in

Astrid’s life, bringing much joy to the entire family.

Her 89 years exemplified the life of a devout Christian

woman. She made helping others a priority and specialized

in bringing people together in all of her circles. She became

the social coordinator for many. Bob, her loving husband of

59 years, died in 2002. She also mourned the death of her

parents, a sister, a niece, a nephew, and many dear friends.

Funeral services were held on September 26, 2014 at the

First English Lutheran Church, in Whitewater, Wisconsin,

with the Rev. Steven Hanson officiating. Interment was in

Hillside Cemetery in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Visitation was

held at the church, and a luncheon followed. Memorials can

23

be made to First English Lutheran Church or Rainbow

Hospice. The Nitardy Funeral Home in Whitewater,

Wisconsin, assisted the family with arrangements.

Sophia Ruth Lindahl Anderson – Svea No. 253

Sophia Lindahl Anderson, age 89, of

Indianapolis, Indiana, passed away on

Friday, December 12, 2014, surrounded

by her loving family. As a devoted wife

and beloved mother, she will be dearly

missed. Sophia Anderson was born on

August 17, 1925 to Oscar and Augusta

Lindahl. Sophia is survived by her

husband Daniel John Anderson, Sr.; her

daughter Dawn A. Schmer, son – in - law

Gunter H. Schmer, and granddaughter Christiana Joy

Schmer. She is further survived by family members Karl,

David, and Mark Lindahl and their families; Paul and Virginia

Lindahl; and Ruth Lindahl; along with many extended family

and close friends. She was preceded in death by her

daughter Linda Kay Anderson, her son Daniel John Anderson

II, her father Oscar Lindahl, and her mother Augusta Lindahl.

Sophia and her husband Daniel J. Anderson joined Svea #

253 on May 2, 1981, and both were very active at the start

and over the years, served the lodge in important capacities

and contributed greatly to the success of the lodge. Sophia

was a woman of many accomplishments. She grew up in a

very Swedish family and loved her Swedish heritage; as a

young woman she was a beautiful blonde and very Swedish

looking. She was a nurse and occupational therapist before

marrying Dan Anderson in 1960. She was also a hobby artist

and painted charming scenes such as interiors of Swedish

cottages and fishing villages. Sophia was a "real" artist, but

as her daughter explained, she was modest about her talents

and "did not really consider herself an artist". For years

Sophia and Dan Anderson represented our lodge on the

Nationalities Council of Indianapolis, Indiana, helping to plan

the annual International Festival. Both Dan and Sophia were

master gardeners and Sophia created beautiful wreaths from

flowers and greenery and she "awarded" them to different

lodge members during the meetings. Sophia was also known

for her contributions to the refreshments table, such as her

delicious homemade flatbread. Sophia often wore her native

Swedish costume to our gatherings, and sang with the Svea

Singers each year at the Lucia Fest. Sophia and Dan

Anderson were among those who brought Svea Lodge 253

back to life in the early 1980s. A Memorial service for

Sophia, and their son Daniel J. Anderson II (who died on

November 14, 2014), was held on Saturday, December 13,

2014 at Cross and Crown Lutheran Church in Indianapolis,

Indiana, and funeral services were held privately at Oaklawn

Memorial Gardens in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Jerome F. Anderson – Viljan No. 349

Jerome “Jerry” F. Anderson, 90 years

old, of Batavia, Illinois, passed away

Thursday, November 27, 2014 at

Michealsen Health Care in Batavia,

Illinois. He was born January 21, 1924

in Elgin, Illinois, the son of Clarence

and Anna (née Hallman) Anderson.

He was united in marriage to Helen

Ragnhild (née Anderson) Anderson

November 26, 1959 (Thanksgiving Day) at Bethany

Lutheran Church in Batavia, Illinois. Jerry attended

grammar school at Our Lady of Grace in Chicago, Illinois,

and graduated from Elgin High School class of 1942. After

high school he enlisted in the United States Army Air Force

where he flew in a B24 aircraft and manned a twin.50

caliber machine gun; he flew 27 combat missions in the

Pacific during WW II. After he honorably served our

country, Jerry Anderson went to work as an installer /

repairman for 36 years with Illinois Bell Telephone. After his

retirement in 1983, he worked for 25 years as a security

officer at Fermi Lab and OSI. Jerry Anderson and his wife

Helen were members of Viljan Vasa Lodge # 349 since

January 1, 1996, and he was a life member of the V. F. W.,

and worshiped at Bethany Lutheran Church in Batavia,

Illinois.

Jerry Anderson is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years

Helen and his five children: Thomas Anderson of

Goldendale, Washington; Kathleen Glock of Montgomery,

Illinois; Michael (Melva) Anderson of Oswego, Illinois; Julie

(Tom) Wawczak of Roselle, Illinois; and Polly (David)

Wiebke of Owatonna, Minnesota; ten grandchildren and ten

great - grandchildren; sister – in – law Diane Anderson of

Normal, Illinois; and many nieces and nephews. Jerry

Anderson was preceded in death by his parents and a

brother Eugene C. Anderson. A Memorial Service was held

Saturday, December 20 at Bethany Lutheran Church,

Batavia, Illinois. Private Interment was at River Hills

Memorial Park, Batavia, Illinois. Contributions may be

directed to Bethany Lutheran Church, 8 South Lincoln

Street, Batavia, Illinois 60510; or Holden Village, HCO Box

2, Chelan, Washington 98816; or Batavia Library, 10 South

Batavia Avenue, Batavia, Illinois 60510.

Miriam E. Hendrickson – Linde No. 492

Miriam E. Hendrickson (née Niemi),

age 95 years, was reunited with her

loving husband George Hendrickson

on September 24, 2014. Miriam

Hendrickson was born April 19, 1919.

She is survived by her children Karen

(Walter) Dowty, Duane (Rhonda),

Randy (Jean), and Juli (Mike Schlick)

Wood; grandchildren Michael, Andrea

(Cyprien) Bechler, and Matthew; and great grandchildren

Alienor and Alois. Miriam is further survived by nieces,

nephews, other relatives and friends. Miriam attended

college at Duluth State Teachers College and University of

Wisconsin at Eau Claire. She was an elementary school

teacher for 30 years. Miriam and George Hendrickson were

members of the Finnish American Society of Milwaukee, the

Nordic Counsel, and Linde Lodge # 492 (which she joined

in October 1984), Vasa Order Of America. From age 77 to

91, Miriam taught line dancing at Village Manor, and also

taught Euro - dancing at the Salolampi Finnish Language

Village for many years. Miriam and George Hendrickson

enjoyed Finnish and Swedish folk dancing, took many years

of ballroom dance classes, and enjoyed traveling after

retiring. They were members of the United Church of Christ

in Neillsville, Wisconsin. Visitation and Memorial Services

were held at Hartson Funeral Home, in Hales Corners,

Wisconsin. Memorials are appreciated to the Salolampi

Foundation. We all have fond memories of her. She will be

missed by so many.

24

UPCOMING EVENTS

Grand Lodge Convention

2018 – To be held in California

District Lodge Lake Michigan No. 8 Annual Conventions

29 – 31 May 2015: Hosted by Satellite # 661, Kalamazoo, Michigan

May 2016; Hosted by Viking # 730, Flint, Michigan

Siljan-Mora-Tuna # 134

18 January 2015 – Regular Meeting

Bessemer # 203

3 January 2015 – Tailgate Lunch

7 February 2015 – Installation of Officers

7 March 2015 – Regular Meeting

Brahe # 245

18 January 2015 – Installation of Officers at Cherry Valley District Library

Svea # 253

4 January 2015 – Swedish Trivia, presented by Carin Young

1 February 2015 – A Selection Of Popular Swedish Literature, Brenda Miller

1 March 2015 – A Swedish Summer By Lake Vättern, by Annette Johansson

12 April 2015 –Barbershop Music’s Swedish Connection, by Marc Hagn

3 May 2015 - Hans Christian Anderson: A Fairytale Of Life, by June M. Clair

6 June 2015 – Swedish National Day / Svenska Nationaldagen - Luncheon

21 June 2015 – Midsommar Celebration and Pot Luck Meal

2 August 2015 – Kräftskiva Festival and Pot Luck Meal

13 September 2015 – VDM Michael Pearson, Sr. will exhibit his Viking artifacts

4 October 2015 – Thank You For The Music: A Tribute To ABBA, Doug Krantz

1 November 2015 – The Icelandic Horse, by Nancy Anderson

18 November 2015 to 22 November 2015 – Indianapolis International Festival

5 December 2015 – Rehearsal for Lucia Celebration

6 December 2015 – Lucia Celebration and Dinner

Linde # 492

17 January 2015 – Auditors meeting at the Ekstrand’s house

22 February 2015 – Installation of officers for 2015; coffee and social

Lindgren # 754

January 2015 – Kick Off Brunch

VASA BRIDAL CROWN

Our District has a beautiful gold bridal crown available to members and their

children and grandchildren. This crown carries the tradition of Sweden

where many churches provide such a crown for the use of their

congregations. An application to use it must be completed, and after the

wedding, we ask that the crown be returned along with a photograph or two

of the bride wearing it on her wedding day. If you or someone in your

family is planning a wedding, consider taking advantage of this special

opportunity. Call me at 877 – 923 – 8777 (toll free) or email at

[email protected].

Lynda Smith

District Supervisor Of Children’s / Youth Clubs

***************************************************

GOTT NYTT ÅR

2015!

LOCAL LODGE CONTACTS

Siljan-Mora-Tuna # 134 4 February 1908

Evergreen Park, Illinois (708) 352 – 0042

Lisa Cianci [email protected]

Thor # 147 3 October 1908

Channahon, Illinois (815) 458 – 0974

Sandra Fletcher [email protected]

Linné # 153 20 September 1909

South Bend, Indiana (574) 272 - 4625

Judi Parmley [email protected]

Kronan # 179 6 September 1910

Chicago, Illinois (847) 677 - 5181

John Nygard [email protected]

Bessemer # 203 11 October 1911

Oak Lawn, Illinois (708) 423 – 4057

James Pelzman [email protected]

Brahe # 245 30 January 1913

Rockford, Illinois (815) 601-3922

Scott Johnson [email protected]

Svea # 253 29 May 1913

Indianapolis, Indiana (317) 986 - 7064

Jean Tygum [email protected]

Nobel # 288 22 February 1914

Moline, Illinois (309) 797 – 6914

Linda Lootens [email protected]

Viljan # 349 7 October 1916

Batavia, Illinois (815) 895 – 2102

Thomas Cleveland [email protected]

Austin # 466 6 April 1925

Chicago, Illinois (773) 477 – 7622

Robert Oberg

Linde # 492 6 June 1927

New Berlin, Wisconsin (262) 366 - 9152

Liza Ekstrand [email protected]

Joe Harbor # 534 27 April 1929

Saint Joseph, Michigan (269) 429 - 4207

Linda Tjernlund [email protected]

Satellite # 661 22 April 1961

Kalamazoo, Michigan (269) 671 - 5970

Judith Ruser [email protected]

Bishop Hill # 683 25 March 1968

Bishop Hill, Illinois (309) 932-2068

Jeff Anderson [email protected]

Hagar # 721 12 November 1977

Mount Prospect, Illinois (847) 297-4645

Keith Emrikson [email protected]

Viking # 730 15 May 1981

Flint, Michigan (810) 639 – 6705

Eric Swanson [email protected]

Lindgren # 754 14 October 1995

Green Bay, Wisconsin (920) 469 - 1919

Fred Juengst [email protected]

Jubileum # 755 17 November 1996

Madison, Wisconsin (608) 835 – 5152

Gunnard Swanson [email protected]

Nordik Folk # 761 29 January 2006

Munster, Indiana (219) 845 - 6948

Michael Pearson, Jr. [email protected]

The list includes a name, location, telephone

number, and/or e-mail address for each of the

19 local lodges in District # 8. Please send

updated contact information to Joella Hultgren

(Editor) at: [email protected]; (317) 733 –

3493; or 13650 Amblewind Place, Carmel,

Indiana 46074 – 8227.

25

VALTHORNET

District Lodge Lake Michigan No. 8

Vasa Order Of America

Joella D. Hultgren



Fish Boil, Christmas Luncheon, & Christmas Dancing

(above) Satellite #661 hosted its annual Fish Boil on October 5, 2014 in Kalamazoo, Michigan;

(left) Lillian Larson,

Elaine Johnson, and

Marianne Ekstrand

attended Linde

#492’s Christmas

Luncheon in

Pewaukee,

Wisconsin on

December 7, 2014;

and

(right) Linde #492

dancing around the

Christmas tree

December 14, 2014 in Hales Corners, Wisconsin.

VALTHORNET is the official publication of the District Lodge Lake Michigan No. 8, Vasa Order of America, and is published in

Indianapolis, Indiana. The VALTHORNET is published quarterly in the months of January, April, July, and October.

DEADLINES: All news items and photographs should reach the Editor Joella Hultgren (see page 2 for contact information) by the

last day of the month before the month of publication, i.e. 31 March, 30 June, 30 September, and 31 December.

ADDRESS CHANGES should be sent to: Joan Graham, Grand Secretary, 5838 San Jose Avenue, Richmond, California 94804;

Email: [email protected] or [email protected].

NONPROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE

P A I D

Indianapolis, IN

Permit No. 5677

Valthornet January 2015

Documents

Transcript of Valthornet January 2015